[Dosage of prolactin in normal and pathological subjects (author's transl)]

Homologous radioimmunoassay of human prolactin was performed and used to investigate the secretion of this pituitary hormone under normal and pathological conditions. The following data were developed in this paper: --During the menstrual cycle, prolactin levels are more elevated during ovulatory and luteal phases than during follicular phase; --During pregnancy, prolactin levels progressively increase to reach their maximum at the end of gestation; --During lactation, prolactin levels increase for the two days following delivery, then progressively decrease; --Bromocryptine oral administration drastically reduces prolactin levels within the 24 hours as it inhibits the prolactin release normally induced by suckling. Assays of prolactin is useful to define the role of this hormone in the genesis of the galactorrhea. Bromocryptine as L Dopa reduce the hyperprolactinemia either functional or tumoral in origin. TRH provokes prolactin release which is more pronounced in females than in males. Pituitary prolactin reserve may be appreciated in several pathological conditions. It appears to be of first interest to assess the residual function of the pituitary gland after surgical removal of adenoma. Depuis 1971, la prolactine humaine peut être dosée dans les milieux biologiques par méthode radio-immunologique (G. BRYANT et coll., 1971; M. L'HERMITTE et coll., 1972; H. FRIESEN et coll., 1972; SINHA et coll., 1973). En 1974 nous avons proposé une méthode de dosage radio-immunologique homologue (A. REUTER et coll., 1976). Grâce à celle-ci nous avons exploré la sécrétion de cette hormone hypophysaire dans certaines conditions normales et pathologiques.