[The role of hyperprolactinaemia in sterility where the cycle is anovulatory and where there is deficit of progestogen. (Investigations of the pituitary reserves of FSH, LH and prolactin) (author's transl)].

We have measured by radio-immunological assays the levels of prolactin (PRL), of FSH and of LH in the plasma in 7 cases where sterility was due to persistent anovulatory cycles and in 6 cases where there was a progesterone deficiency as the sole aetiological factor. Then we stimulated the release of these three hormones by giving 300 micrograms of TRF, PRL, and 100 micrograms of LH-RH, of FSH and of LH. The results were compared with those obtained in 7 cases of normal young women with clear-cut biphasic cycles used as controls. These results show that a rise in the reserves of prolactin in the pituitary is very common in anovulatory cycles and in progesterone deficiency. In every case where the prolactin is raised LH is significantly lowered, where as the levels of FSH do not show much variation between those found in normal women. Thus an inverse relationship between PRL and LH has been demonstrated and its significance has been commented on.