title: Experimental hyperprolactinemia and hypoprolactinemia and human chorionic gonadotropin during early pregnancy.
abstract: The effect of experimental hyperprolactinemia and hypoprolactinemia on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) concentration was studied in 34 healthy volunteers between weeks 6 and 11 of normal pregnancy. Hyperprolactinemia was induced in 12 women with 150 mg of sulpiride daily for 2 weeks; treatment led to a mean plasma prolactin (PRL) rise from 14.6 to 84.1 microgram/liter after 1 week and to 83.0 microgram/liter after 2 weeks. Hypoprolactinemia was effected in 11 women wit 5.0 to 7.5 mg of bromocriptine, daily for 2 weeks; treatment decreased the mean plasma prolactin from 19.2 to 6.0 microgram/liter after 1 week and to 5.2 microgram/liter after 2 weeks. These PRL changes were significant (P less than .001) in comparison with the plasma PRL concentrations in the 11 control women. Hyperprolactinemia induced by the sulpiride treatment was accompanied by a significant decrease in hCG concentration, whereas no difference in hCG was seen between hypoprolactinemia and control groups. This may suggest a synergistic action of hCG and PRL, or a direct effect of sulpiride on hCG, but the final mechanism and biologic importance of the phenomenon remain to be investigated.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D013469:Sulpiride / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D001971:Bromocriptine; D013469:Sulpiride; D011388:Prolactin