The Effect of Acute Hypercalcemia on Prolactin Release in Man

Abstract

The serum prolactin response to acute hypercalcemia during calcium infusion was studied in 7 normal subjects. Prolactin, and calcium levels were determined at 30 minute intervals during the 210 minutes of the infusion. The infusions performed consisted of either normal saline at 3 ml/min for 210 minutes, or 15 mg calcium/kg at 3 ml/min for 180 minutes followed by normal saline infusion for the final 30 minutes. Calcium concentration increased from a base line of 10.1 ± 0.26 (mean ± SEM) to a maximal level of 13.6 ± 0.26 (mean ± SEM) mg/100 ml, in response to calcium levelin response to normal saline infusion. Prolactin level decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from 9.5 ± 1.45 (mean ± SEM) to 3.7 ± 0.2 (mean ± SEM) ng/ml at 180 minutes. These results suggest that acute hypercalcemia decreases the prolactin level suggesting some relation between calcium concentration and prolactin release. Key-Words: Calcium - Prolactin