Prolactin and thyrotropin responses to nursing during the early puerperium.
This study investigated the possible role of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) as a physiologic prolactin-releasing factor by measuring prolactin (PRL) and thyrotropin (TSH) responses to nursing. Eight women had serum samples drawn at 15-minute intervals for 1 hour while nursing during three separate periods in the hour while nursing during three separate periods in the first month postpartum. The samples were frozen and assayed in a single batch for PRL and TSH. Mean PRL levels during suckling increased greater than 50% over baseline values in all three sampling sessions. In contrast, suckling had no effect on circulating TSH. Our data fail to support the previously reported observation of a release of TSH in response to nursing and provide further indirect evidence that TRH is not responsible for the brisk release of PRL with suckling.
Gehlbach
D L
DL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas 79920-5001.
Bayliss
P
P
Rosa
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology
D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin