title: Effect of prolactin suppression on gonadotrophic secretion in the puerperium.
abstract: Serum levels of prolactin (PRL), FSH, LH and oestradiol-17 beta were determined by radioimmunoassay in 57 lactating women and in 20 women in whom lactation was inhibited by ergocryptine (CS-154). Women who breast fed their infants exhibited high PRL levels which abruptly declined within 48 h post-partum, and remained low for the duration of the study. Serum FSH was undetectable during the first week post-partum in lactating as well as in CB-154 treated women. Thereafter, lactating women showed increasing FSH levels which reached a maximum by the third week post-partum. These FSH values were higher in lactating women than in the CBS-154 treated group. In contrast, LH levels were higher in those women receiving CB-154. Serum oestradiol-17 beta remained in low levels throughout the study, and no difference was observed between the two groups of subjects. From these results it seems that: 1) inhibition of PRL secretion leads to a faster recovery of gonadotrophin secretion toward the "menstrual type", and 2) PRL suppression produces no effect on the ovarian oestrogen production.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004873:Ergolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004873:Ergolines; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone