COMPARISON BETWEEN PROLACTIN, GONADOTROPINS AND STEROID-HORMONES IN SERUM AND FOLLICULAR-FLUID AFTER STIMULATION WITH GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING-HORMONE AGONISTS AND HUMAN MENOPAUSAL GONADOTROPIN FOR AN IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION PROGRAM

The inter-relationship between serum and follicular fluid prolactin, o estradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and lutei nizing hormone (LH) in two groups of women was investigated. In group 1, 32 women were treated with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) in a long term protocol and subsequently stimulated with huma n menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG). In group 2, 25 women were simultaneo usly stimulated with GnRH-a in a short protocol with HMG. Follicular f luid was collected from 54 follicles in group 1 and 47 follicles in gr oup 2. Serum was obtained on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration. Serum prolactin and oestradiol concentrations we re significantly higher (P < 0.025 and P < 0.01, respectively) in grou p 1 than in group 2. Serum LH (P < 0.005), FSH (P < 0.01) and progeste rone (P < 0.025) were significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2. Follicular fluid prolactin was significantly higher (P < 0.005) in gro up 1. No differences were found in follicular fluid progesterone and o estradiol. Follicular fluid LH was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in g roup 1. Serum prolactin correlated positively with oestradiol in both groups (P < 0.005 group 1; P < 0.02 group 2). No significant correlati on was found between serum prolactin and LH in group 1. We conclude th at prolactin secretion is independent from LH secretion. Hyperprolacti naemia, which is observed in women stimulated with GnRH-a and HMG, is positively associated with increased oestradiol.