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Prolactin and Testosterone: Independent Circulating Levels in Hyperprolactinemic and Normoprolactinemic Amenorrhea. The Effect of Prolactin Suppression by Bromocriptine

¹ Departments I and II of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Central Hospital 00290 Helsinki 29, Finland
² Department of Serology and Bacteriology University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

In order to elucidate the pituitary regulation of the female testosterone secretion, we studied by radioimmunoassay the circulating prolactin (PRL) and testosterone-dihydrotestosterone (T-dT) levels in 12 hyperprolactinemic and 12 normoprolactinemic patients with secondary amenorrhea. After the basal levels had been recorded, each patient was given bromocriptine for two weeks, 2.5 mg twice daily, and repeat estimations of the PRL and T-dT levels were done.

We found no significant difference in the basal TdT levels between normoprolactinemic and hyperprolactinemic patients, and no significant correlation between the PRL and T-dT levels in either group. Although the PRL levels of the hyperprolactinemic patients were greatly suppressed by bromocriptine, the T-dT levels showed no systematic change. In normoprolactinemic patients, the T-dT concentrations were somewhat lower during bromocriptine treatment, but the difference from basal levels was not statistically significant (0.05 < P < 0.1).

Our results suggest that in patients with secondary amenorrhea PRL does not interfere directly with T-dT secretion, or vice versa.

This study was carried out under a contract with the Association of the Finnish Life Insurance Companies and also supported by the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation.

Received October 28, 1975.