Abstract
Plasma prolactin (PRL) response to arginine was examined in 16 prepubertal and 18 pubertal children with constitutional short stature, 5 patients with hyperthyroidism and 4 patients with primary hypothyroidism. The mean basal concentration of plasma PRL was significantly higher (P<0.01) in primary hypothyroidism than in other groups. Arginine infusion elicited significant (P<0.05) rises in plasma PRL in all groups. The maximal increment of plasma PRL above the baseline level after arginine stimulation was significantly larger (P<0.05) in pubertal than in prepubertal females and was significantly smaller (P<0.05) in patients with hyperthyroidism than in age- and sex-matched controls. There was no sex difference in arginine-stimulated PRL secretion. These data suggest that arginine produces a significant increase in plasma PRL and the PRL response to arginine was greater in pubertal than in prepubertal children. Plasma PRL response to arginine is suppressed in children with hyperthyroidism and the basal plasma PRL is markedly elevated in primary hypothyroidism.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abe K, Matsuura N, Fukushima N, Nohara Y, Fujita H, Kato T, Endo M (1982) Prolactin response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in children with Turner's syndrome and hyperthyroidism. Eur J Pediatr 138:176–178
Guyda HJ, Friesen HG (1973) Serum prolactin levels in humans from birth to adult life. Pediatr Res 7:534–540
Honbo KS, Van Herle AJ, Kellett KA (1978) Serum prolactin levels in untreated primary hypothyroidism. Am J Med 64: 782–787
Ijaiya K (1980) Prolactin response to exercise, metoclopromide and other provocative agents in children. Eur J Pediatr 134: 231–237
Kaplan SL, Grumbach MM, Friesen HG, Costom BH (1972) Thyrotropin-releasing factor (TRF) effect on secretion of human pituitary prolactin and thyrotropin in children and in idiopathic hypopituitary dwarfism: Further evidence for hypophysiotropic hormone deficiency. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 35:825–830
Le Roith D, Shapiro M, Jabotinsky K, Spitz IM (1979) Prolactin nonresponsiveness to arginine in diabetes mellitus. Horm Metab Res 11:583–584
Onishi T, Itoh KF, Miyai K, Izumi K, Shima K, Kumahara Y (1976) Prolactin response to arginine in normal subjects and in patients with hyperthyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 42: 148–151
Roitman A, Assa S, Pertzelan A, Zadik Z, Laron Z (1980) Prolactin secretion in 70 patients with growth hormone deficiency. Eur J Pediatr 133:251–258
Suter SN, Kaplan SL, Aubert ML, Grumbach MM (1973) Plasma prolactin and thyrotropin and the response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone. J Clin Invest 52:2324–2329
Yamaji T, Shimamoto K, Ishibashi M, Kosaka K, Orimo H (1976) Effect of age and sex on circulating and pituitary prolactin levels in human. Acta Endocrinol 83:711–719
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Abe, K., Matsuura, N., Fujita, H. et al. Prolactin response to arginine in children with hyperthyroidism and primary hypothyroidism. Eur J Pediatr 139, 118–120 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00441493
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00441493