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Prolactin Assays and Regulation of Secretion: Animal and Human Data

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Prolactin Disorders

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

Abstract

Prolactin (PRL) is mainly produced by pituitary lactotrophs and is tonically inhibited by the hypothalamic neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is produced by tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons and released into the portal vessels of the pituitary stalk. It reaches the pituitary where it inhibits PRL secretion via dopamine receptors present on the surface of lactotrophs. The major isoform of PRL, 23 kDa PRL, acts via a membrane receptor, the prolactin receptor (PRLR), a member of the hematopoietic cytokine superfamily. Increased serum PRL, hyperprolactinemia, whatever its etiology, is the most common cause of hypogonadotropic anovulation in women and is frequently associated with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in men. Hyperprolactinemia is also a cause of galactorrhea. Automated immunoassays for measuring serum PRL levels based on the sandwich principle are now widely available and are very simple to perform. However, potential artefacts in these assays, due to the “hook effect” or to the presence of high levels of macroprolactin, may lead to misdiagnosis and mismanagement of patients that could lead to unnecessary pituitary exploration, waste of healthcare resources, and unnecessary concern for both patient and clinician.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inserm U1185, Faculty of Medicine Paris Sud, University Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France

    Nadine Binart, Jacques Young & Philippe Chanson

  2. Service d’Endocrinologie et des Maladies de la Reproduction, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Sud, Hôpital de Bicêtre Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France

    Jacques Young & Philippe Chanson

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Correspondence to Nadine Binart .

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  1. Neuroendocrine and Pituitary Clinical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Nicholas A. Tritos

  2. Neuroendocrine and Pituitary Clinical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Anne Klibanski

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Binart, N., Young, J., Chanson, P. (2019). Prolactin Assays and Regulation of Secretion: Animal and Human Data. In: Tritos, N., Klibanski, A. (eds) Prolactin Disorders. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11836-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11836-5_3

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-11835-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-11836-5

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