[Blood prolactin in insulin-dependent diabetics. Basal study and effect of stimulation]

Blood prolactin levels were measured under basal conditions and following the intravenous injection of TRH at time 0, 30, 60 and 120 minutes in 22 men and 21 women insulin-dependent diabetics, aged less than 50 years and not taking any drug influencing prolactin secretion. Prolactin levels were significantly higher (alpha = 0.05) at the 120th minute in male diabetics and under basal conditions and at the 60th minute in female controls. There was no correlation with retinopathy, age and control of diabetes. At the 30th minute, prolactin levels were higher when diabetes was of more recent onset. These results confirm the absence of any participation of prolactin in the development of retinopathy, although variations in prolactin may be seen in association with the presence of diabetes.