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Plasma testosterone and prolactin in the menstrual cycle
Clinical Endocrinology
|September 1, 1975
Summary
This study found no direct link between prolactin and testosterone levels during the menstrual cycle. Testosterone levels showed cyclical changes, but prolactin did not correlate with these or other reproductive hormones.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Biology
- Hormonal Regulation
Background:
- The menstrual cycle involves complex hormonal fluctuations influencing reproductive health.
- Understanding the interplay between hormones like prolactin and testosterone is crucial for reproductive endocrinology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between daily plasma prolactin and testosterone concentrations during ovulatory menstrual cycles.
- To determine if prolactin influences the cyclical patterns of testosterone production.
Main Methods:
- Conducted daily hormonal assays over nine ovulatory menstrual cycles.
- Measured plasma levels of prolactin, testosterone, LH, FSH, estrogen, and progesterone.
- Analyzed correlations between hormone levels and their cyclical patterns.
Main Results:
- Plasma prolactin and testosterone concentrations fluctuated randomly and independently.
- Testosterone levels were significantly higher around the mid-cycle LH peak compared to the premenstrual phase.
- No significant correlation was observed between prolactin and LH, FSH, estrogen, or progesterone levels.
Conclusions:
- Prolactin does not appear to directly control the cyclical production of testosterone during the menstrual cycle.
- The observed cyclical changes in testosterone are likely regulated by other hormonal mechanisms.