title: Effect of a melatonin-free extract from bovine pineal on plasma and urinary steroids and on serum prolactin in hirsute amenorrheic adolescents.
abstract: Basal and post-suppressive dexamethasone (dxm) levels of some urinary androgen metabolites, plasma testosterone (T), 17 hydroxyprogesterone (17 OHP) and of basal serum prolactin were determined in 34 hirsute amenorrheic adolescents aged 13-17 in whom a five day course of bovine pineal extract (4 ml a day i.m.) was instituted. No convincing effect of pineal extract administration on plasma T and 17 OHP and on serum prolactin was detectable in most of pineal-treated patients. Suppressibility to dxm of plasma T and 17 OHP was not a relevant index of both the origin of androgens or the clinical course of the patients.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000097:blood*; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D010870:Pineal Gland; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013256:Steroids / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D013256:Steroids; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D003907:Dexamethasone; D011388:Prolactin