Changes in secretion of prolactin in obesity

The purpose of this study was to evaluate prolactin secretion in obesity. Basal level of serum prolactin and prolactin response after thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) were investigated in 20 obese patients and 20 healthy subjects well matched for age and sex. Obese patients had higher basal level...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Minerva endocrinologica Vol. 15; no. 4; p. 267
Main Authors:	Grimaldi, F, Mazzolini, A, Paterniti Barbino, R, Torossi, I, Proto, G, Bertolissi, F
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	Italian
Published:	Italy 01-10-1990
Subjects:	Adult Body Mass Index Dopamine - physiology Female Humans Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - drug effects Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiopathology Male Obesity - physiopathology Prolactin - secretion Secretory Rate - drug effects Serotonin - physiology Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone - pharmacology
Online Access:	Get more information
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	The purpose of this study was to evaluate prolactin secretion in obesity. Basal level of serum prolactin and prolactin response after thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) were investigated in 20 obese patients and 20 healthy subjects well matched for age and sex. Obese patients had higher basal levels of serum prolactin than those of healthy subjects. Conversely, no significant difference in serum prolactin concentration was found at any time during TRH stimulating test. However obese patients showed incremental areas of serum prolactin slightly, but not significantly, lower compared to healthy subjects, probably because their basal levels were higher. In conclusion, the present study confirms that prolactin secretion is altered in obese patients. The discrepancy between basal levels and prolactin response during TRH stimulating test seems to indicate a deficiency in the dopaminergic inhibitor system.
ISSN:	0391-1977