Abstract
The occurence of abnormal PRL secretion in abnormal pubertal development was investigated by means of TRH stimulation tests (200 μg IV/m2). Among 5 boys aged 1 to 10 with precocious puberty (PP) 3 cases of idiopathic PP had PRL responses within the normal range for prepubertal children (19-52 ng PRL F3/ml) and 2 with a cerebral tumor had high responses. In 14 girls with untreated PP, the response level (m± sem) was 40.7 ± 4.2, significantly higher than in normal children (30.9 ± 1.5). An additionnal girl with neurofibromatosis had a very high response. In 14 boys aged 14 to 17 with lack of puberty the base levels were normal; in only 1 case was the response high. Among 13 girls aged 13 to 18 with lack of sexual (especially mammary) development the response level was slightly elevated in 3 cases (including a tumor of the 3 d. ventricle) and very highly elevated in 2 cases in whom a PRL secreting tumor was subsequently removed. Thus a PRL secreting tumor may be responsible of retarded puberty with no mammary development, and PRL measurements can provide indirect evidences of tumoral processes in pubertal abnormalities.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Roger, M., Chaussain, J., Canlorbe, P. et al. Prolactin (PRL) response to thyroliberin (TRH) in abnormalities of pubertal development. Pediatr Res 12, 152 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197802000-00039
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197802000-00039