title: Correlation between anxiety and serum prolactin in humans.
abstract: The organised social structure of primate species largely determines individual behaviour. Moreover Keverne et al. in Advanced Views in Primate Biology, Springer, Berlin (1982) [1] have demonstrated that social interaction among confined male talapoin monkeys may result in endocrine changes, and that these in turn may modify behaviour. We have undertaken a study to determine whether similar endocrine changes can be induced in confined human volunteers. Five men were confined on a boat for fourteen days. Repeated plasma samples were taken under controlled conditions for assay of testosterone, prolactin and cortisol. After each sample the men completed a questionnaire to document self-perceived anxiety. The men were also secretly ranked for dominant/aggressive behaviour towards the other males. Significant correlation was found between day-to-day changes in anxiety and stress hormones, cortisol and prolactin. Significant correlation was found also between plasma prolactin, testosterone and rank position for dominance/aggression. It is concluded that under some circumstances social interaction may modify endocrine status in humans.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D004291:Dominance-Subordination; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone