Estrogenic response in women with amenorrhea during treatment with human menopausal gonadotropin with and without the simultaneous administration of bromocriptine.
In an attempt to determine whether prolactin influences estrogen biosynthesis in the ovary, the estrogenic responses of women with amenorrhea under treatment with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG), with and without the simultaneous administration of the prolactin inhibitor bromocriptine, were investigated in a total of 20 treatment cycles. In five of the six women studied, the addition of bromocriptine produced a urinary excretion of estrogenic compounds 79% higher than that produced by treatment with hMG alone. In one woman with a slightly increased serum prolactin level, the addition of bromocriptine necessitated halving the total hMG dosage. One woman with low endogenous levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and a limited response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone showed no increased estrogen excretion after bromocriptine administration over that produced by hMG alone. These results suggest that (1) both elevated and normal serum prolactin levels can have a direct inhibitory effect on the ovary and (2) FSH may be necessary for the formation of prolactin receptors in the ovary.
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004967:Estrogens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008593:Menopause; D008596:Menotropins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
D004967:Estrogens; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones; D001971:Bromocriptine; D004958:Estradiol; D008596:Menotropins; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone