We have demonstrated the selective secretion of high mol wt PRL series (big big PRL) in women with hyperprolactinemia and normal ovarian function. This observation suggests that big big PRL is immunologically similar, but biologically less active, than monomeric or little PRL. In this study we determined the molecular size heterogeneity of immunoreactive PRL in the serum from two ovulatory hyperprolactinemic women (subjects A and B) who had large amounts of serum big big PRL during a menstrual cycle and/or gestation. Serum samples obtained throughout the menstrual cycle (days 6, 10, 14, 17, 23, and 28, taking as day 1 the first day of bleeding) and pregnancy (weeks 7, 9, 11, 15, 20, 25, 30, 34, and 38) were fractionated by gel filtration chromatography. PRL was identified in column eluates by specific RIA. Two additional pregnant women, one with a bromocriptine-treated PRL-secreting adenoma (subject C), and a normal woman (subject D) were studied. Big big PRL was the predominant species throughout the different phases of the menstrual cycle in subject B, comprising 70-80% of the total immunoreactive PRL. Most of the remainder was big PRL, and little PRL was present in only small amounts (6-12%) during the luteal phase. During their pregnancies, the serum PRL in subjects A and B initially was mostly big big PRL, but later in gestation the PRL composition shifted from the high mol wt variants to little PRL. The infant's cord (subject A) and peripheral (subject B) serum at birth contained appreciable quantities of big big and big PRL, respectively. These results indicate that structural changes in PRL occur during pregnancy and the menstrual cycle which are probably influenced by the hormonal environment. In addition, the occurrence of larger mol wt PRL species in the serum of the infant of a hyperprolactinemic mother suggests that the presence of high proportions of big big PRL in the serum is genetically determined.
To evaluate ovarian luteal function after tubal occlusion, a group of women who underwent Pomeroy sterilization were studied. A prospective group I (n = 16) were followed for one year and scheduled for blood sampling every other day during their luteal phase before surgical procedure and at 3 and 12 months thereafter. Group II (n = 15) included women who were studied during their luteal phase at 1 or 5 years post-surgery. Mid-luteal progesterone and estradiol serum levels were calculated by estimating the average of at least 3 values of serum samples obtained in days 20-25 of a menstrual cycle. The data suggest that no major changes occur in ovarian function after surgical tubal occlusion, as assessed by the mid-luteal hormone serum levels, and underscore the safety of this procedure.
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