[Variations in blood prolactin in man during enflurane or Alfatésine anesthesias]

Blood prolactin levels (PRL) rise significantly in man following stress or the administration of many drugs. This finding led the authors to study variations in PRL during anaesthesia with Enflurane or Alfatesine. Repeated estimations of PRL were made in 38 subjects: in 8 cases (3 female and 5 male) under anaesthesia with Enflurane only, in 10 cases (6 female and 4 male) with Alfatesine only, in 10 cases (5 female and 5 male) with Enflurane and surgery and in 10 other cases (5 female and 5 male) with Alfatesine with surgery. No significant increase in PRL was seen during the administration of anaesthesia without surgery. By contrast, significant changes were seen when surgery was performed. No significant difference was seen in the results between the two sexes in each group. Taking into account the results of earlier experiments, the authors conclude that Enflurane or Alfatesine alone do not influence the hypothalamo-pituitary axis, but do not protect it during surgical and/or pharmacological stress.