Prolactin secretion in chronic schizophrenia

Abstract

Basal prolactin secretion and its response to various stimuli have been studied in 20 chronic hebephrenic schizophrenics, 10 males and 10 females, aged 20–54 years. The duration of the disease varied between 4 and 30 years. Eight normal subjects from the hospital staff, four males and four females, matched for age, were used as controls. The patients had been off medication for 10 days in 17 cases, for 3 months in one case and for 1 year in two cases. The TRH stimulation test was done by giving 500 μg of TRH i.v., both to schizophrenics and controls. Schizophrenics only were subjected to a 2‐day therapy with chlorpromazine (4 mg/kg body weight per day orally), and thereafter for 8 days to a combined therapy with chlorpromazine at the same dose plus 2‐Br‐α‐ergokryptine‐mesilate (500 mg per day orally). Prolactin levels were assayed radioimmunologically in the basal condition, during the TRH stimulation test, after 2 days of chlorpromazine alone, and after 4 and 8 days of combined therapy with chlorpromazine plus 2‐Br‐α‐ergokryptine‐mesilate. The results obtained showed normal basal prolactin levels, significantly enhanced responses to TRH, normal increases after chlorpromazine alone, and substantial decreases after 2‐Br‐α‐ergokryptine‐mesilate. A possible relative catecholamine deficiency, related to the mental disease, is suggested to explain the results.