The effect of hyperprolactinemia on the diurnal variation of adrenal androgens

Morning and evening plasma cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEA-S) were measured in ten women with hyperprolactinemia secondary to pituitary adenomas and in seven control subjects with cyclic menses and normal prolactin (PRL) levels. Plasma cortisol and DHEA-S levels were comparable in both groups. A diurnal variation for cortisol and DHEA was identified and comparable in both groups. These findings indicate that PRL may not be an important physiologic regulator of adrenal androgen secretion.