title: Lower prolactin bioactivity in unmedicated schizophrenic patients.
abstract: In previous work, prolactin (PRL) abnormalities of a lower bioassay (BA) to radioimmunoassay (RIA) ratio were found in schizophrenic patients. This line of research was extended in seven male patients with schizophrenia who were neuroleptic-free; seven male control subjects were also studied. PRL values were assessed by RIA and Nb(2) BA techniques. The schizophrenic group had a significantly lower PRL BA as compared to normal controls and a lower PRL ratio of BA/RIA. The lower ratio is consistent with an earlier finding and suggests that schizophrenic patients have different molecular forms of PRL than control subjects. This difference could be due to a disordered tuberoinfundibular dopamine system or the long-term effects of neuroleptic medications.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Warner
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Walker
authors: D C
authors: DC
authors: D'Souza
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Lee
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Nasseri
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Peabody
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001681:Biological Assay; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin