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  • Title: Nursing-mediated prolactin and luteinizing hormone secretion during puerperal lactation.
    Author: Tyson JE, Carter JN, Andreassen B, Huth J, Smith B.
    Journal: Fertil Steril; 1978 Aug; 30(2):154-62. PubMed ID: 680192.
    Abstract:
    Alterations in plasma prolactin (PRL) concentrations in response to nursing in puerperally lactating women are often significant beyond the 90th postpartum day, yet the increment appears unrelated to the frequency or duration of the nursing stimulus. Tonic gonadotropin secretion is low, assuming a more episodic secretory pattern either when the frequency of breast-feeding is reduced or when weaning takes place. Significant increments in peripheral concentrations of luteinizing hormone can be seen in response to weaning coincident with a fall in peripheral plasma PRL concentration. At the same time, peripheral estrogen concentrations increase, suggesting that a specific set point for ovarian responsiveness to gonadotropins exists. Whether this set point is related solely to the peripheral concentration of gonadotropins or whether it is also related to the peripheral PRL concentration is not known at this time. The relationship between gonadotropin and PRL (prolactin) secretion in nursing mothers was assessed over an 8-10-hour period. 17 young, healthy, nonobese, nursing mothers participated in the study which involved blood sampling at 20-minute intervals over the 8-10 hours. Results are tabulated and graphed. PRL levels were elevated over those observed in nonnursing women. Such elevations in basal PRL have been shown to persist up to 2 years postpartum. Alterations in PRL concentrations were observed as a response to some nursing events. The variability was related to the intensity of the nursing stimulus rather than the duration or frequency of nursing. Weaning has been shown to be associated with a rapid decline in PRL and an increment in peripheral LH (luteinizing hormone) concentrations. Weaning also causes an episodic gonadotropin secretory pattern coincident with the fall in peripheral plasma PRL. Peripheral estrogen concentrations increased at the same time, suggesting that there is a set point for ovarian responsiveness to gonadotropins. This point may relate to the peripheral PRL concentration or only to the peripheral gonadotropin concentration. These results raised significant questions as to the role of PRL in the maintenance of puerperal lactational infertility.
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