Prolactin suppression of leukocyte chemotaxls in vitro

Abstract

Leukocyte chemotaxis in vitro was studied for cells from patients with pituitary adenomas. Leukocytes obtained preoperatively from 2 of 3 patients with elevated serum prolactin levels demonstrated chemotaxic alterations described in other malignant disease. Statistically significant suppression of chemotaxis occurred in the leukocytes of 4 of 12 specimens from normal donors at concentrations of 1000 ng/ml, and in 4 of 8 specimens at 2000 ng/ml of prolactin in preincubation media. Thus prolactin concentration may influence the motility of leukocytes. The variable neoplastic behavior of morphologically similar pituitary adenomas may, in part, reflect a neurohormonally altered host reponse to the presence of these lesions.