Changes in pituitary prolactin reserve with sexual maturation

To clarify the factors affecting pituitary prolactin (PRL) reserve during development, the serum PRL response to TRH and serum LH, FSH response to LH-RH were studied. The basal levels of serum estradiol (E(2)), testosterone (T) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) were measured in 128 normal children and adolescents and 18 cases of Turner's syndrome. In males, no correlation was found between E(2), T, DHEA-S and the integrated secretion of PRL (∑PRL), while a positive correlation was found between the integrated secretion of FSH (∑FSH) and ∑PRL (p<0.05). In females, positive correlations were found between E(2) and ∑PRL (p<0.01), the integrated secretion of LH (∑LH) and ∑PRL (p<0.01) and DHEA-S and ∑PRL (p<0.01). E(2) was selected as the explanatory variable of ∑PRL by means of multiple regression analysis. In cases of Turner's syndrome, endocrinologically characterized by high gonadotropins and low E(2), a positive correlation was found between ∑FSH and ∑PRL (p