Serum prolactin during pregnancy induced by pituitary gonadotrophins in a patient with post partum hypopituitarism (Sheehan syndrome).

With the purpose of investigating if placental prolactin production had an influence on maternal prolactin serum concentrations, this hormone was quantitated in serum of a women with partial Sheehan syndrome (deficient gonadotrophin and prolactin production). Her pregnancy was induced by pituitary gonadotrophins and the deficient prolactin pituitary reserve was shown by means of pituitary stimulation test with metoclopramide of pituitary stimulation test with metoclopramide and TRH. Quantitative analysis of prolactin was made by RIA utilizing the double antibody method. Serum prolactin concentrations remained persistently low during pregnancy with a minimal increase (1 - 16 ng/ml) at the end of pregnancy when comparing with concentrations observed in normal pregnant women (20 +/- 10 ng/ml at the beginning of pregnancy, and 250 +/- 150 ng/ml mean +/- 3 SD at the end). Prolactin concentration in the umbilical cord was found to be within normal values (252 ng/ml). Results obtained showed that fetal and placental prolactin does not pass on to the mother and confirm the idea that maternal serum prolactin during pregnancy is exclusively of a maternal pituitary origin.