Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
X-Ray Visualization of Intraductal Ethanol-Based Ablative Treatment for Prevention of Breast Cancer in Rat Models
Published on: December 9, 2022
Short-term prolactin administration causes expressible galactorrhea but does not affect bone turnover: pilot data for
Gabrielle Page-Wilson1, Patricia C Smith, Corrine K Welt
1Reproductive Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA. gpagewilson@partners.org
Background:
Medications used to augment lactation increase prolactin secretion but can have intolerable side effects. We examined the biological activity of recombinant human prolactin (r-hPRL) as preliminary data for its use to augment lactation.
Methods:
Healthy, non-postpartum women (n = 21) with regular menstrual cycles underwent a seven day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of r-hPRL. Expressible galactorrhea, markers of bone turnover, calcium homeostasis and gonadal function were measured and side effects recorded.
Results:
Prolactin levels increased during r-hPRL administration (20.0 +/- 2.8 to 231.7 +/- 48.9 microg/L at 6 hours; p < 0.05). Five of nine participants who received r-hPRL developed expressible galactorrhea (p < 0.001). Urinary deoxypyridinoline decreased and bone specific alkaline phosphatase increased in r-hPRL and placebo groups. Menstrual cycle lengths were not altered and side effects were similar between r-hPRL and placebo groups.
Conclusion:
In summary, r-hPRL can cause expressible galactorrhea. Seven days of r-hPRL administration does not adversely affect bone turnover or menstrual cyclicity. Thus, r-hPRL may be a viable option for short-term lactation augmentation.
Trial Registration:
Clinical Trials.gov NCT00438490.
More Related Videos
13:43Intraductal Delivery and X-ray Visualization of Ethanol-Based Ablative Solution for Prevention and Local Treatment of Breast Cancer in Mouse Models
Published on: April 1, 2022
08:51Intraductal Injection of LPS as a Mouse Model of Mastitis: Signaling Visualized via an NF-κB Reporter Transgenic
Published on: September 4, 2012
Related Concept Videos
01:17Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
01:21Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS