Effect of prolactin on plasma DHEA (s) levels.
Plasma DHEA and DHEA-S levels were significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in women with elevated prolactin levels, due either to chronic treatment with psychotropic drugs or to a prolactinoma, than in untreated controls. This increase was also observed in 3 male patients with prolactinoma. It is suggested that this increase is the consequence of a direct effect of prolactin on the adrenal cortex and that prolactin might be responsible for the ACTH independent andrenocortical androgen secretion.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood*; D003704:Dementia / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013431:Sulfates / Q000097:blood; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D004967:Estrogens; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D013431:Sulfates; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D013469:Sulpiride; D011388:Prolactin