Acute hypocalcemia enhances prolactin levels: a study before and after oophorectomy

The effect of acute hypocalcemia on serum prolactin values was investigated in 13 female subjects before and after oophorectomy. An infusion of disodium-EDTA (50 mg/kg b.w., for 120 min) was administered to each patient. Ionized calcium, immunoreactive parathyroid hormone and prolactin serum levels were determined 15 min prior to the infusion, at the beginning of each infusion and thereafter at every 30 min interval. The decrease in serum ionized calcium induced by Na2-EDTA infusion was not influenced by surgery. Serum prolactin and parathyroid hormone values before and after oophorectomy showed a significant (p less than 0.01) increase at 90 and 120 min. The maximum serum prolactin increase was achieved at 120 min and was not influenced by oophorectomy. The results demonstrate that acute hypocalcemia increases serum prolactin levels in female subjects and suggest a possible role for parathyroid hormone and dopaminergic system, even if their interaction remains speculative.