Effects of sulpiride-induced hyperprolactinemia on human ovarian follicles during the late follicular phase.

The effect of hyperprolactinemia during the midfollicular through the late follicular phase of the menstrual cycle on follicular development and follicular fluid hormone concentrations was studied. Fourteen women underwent laparotomy in the late follicular phase for gynecologic reasons; 6 were treated with sulpiride daily from the midfollicular to the late follicular phase (sulpiride group) and 8 received no treatment (control group). Daily administration of sulpiride (150 mg orally) significantly elevated serum prolactin (PRL) levels in all six women. In the small follicles (less than or equal to 8 mm in diameter), follicular fluid 17 beta-estradiol (E2) concentration was significantly lower (P less than 0.01), and testosterone (T) concentration was higher (P less than 0.05) in the sulpiride group. In the large follicles (greater than or equal to 9 mm in diameter), however, follicular fluid E2 and T concentrations showed no significant differences between the sulpiride and control groups. In the sulpiride group, the mean diameters of the follicles were significantly smaller than in the control group (P less than 0.01). These observations suggest that PRL exerts a suppressive effect on the smaller but not the larger follicles during the late follicular phase.