Prolactin Response to N3im-Methyl-Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone in Euthyroid Subjects

The N3im-methyl analogue of thyrotropin releasing hormone (methyl-TRH) was compared with ordinary TRH as a prolactin (PRL) releaser in 32 euthyroid volunteers (20 male and 12 female, ages 17-66 years). The mean PRL response to 100 mug of methyl-TRH was greater (P less than 0.025) than the PRL response to 500 mug of TRH at 10 min and at all sampling times from 30 to 240 min after administration of the releasing factors. The mean peak PRL (at 10 min), maximum deltaPRL, and integrated PRL response area were greater (P less than 0.025) after administration of methyl-TRH than after TRH. The PRL response to methyl-TRH was greater (P less than 0.005) for the 12 women than for the 20 men in this study. The mean baseline PRL was correlated with the peak PRL (r=0.74, P less than 0.01) and the maximum deltaPRL (r=0.58, P less than 0.01) after methyl-TRH. Following administration of methyl-TRH, the peak PRL was correlated with the peak TSH (r=0.43, P less than 0.05), the maximum deltaPRL was correlated with the maximum deltaTSH (r=0.43, P less than 0.05), and integrated PRL response area was correlated with the integrated TSH response area (r=0.44, P less than 0.05). Similar correlations between PRL and TSH responses were seen after giving TRH. Age was inversely correlated with baseline PRL (r=-0.55, P less than 0.01), with maximum deltaPRL (r=-0.64, P less than 0.01), and with the PRL response area (r=0.48, P less than 0.01) after administration of methyl-TRH or TRH. Methyl-TRH did not significantly alter serum levels of growth hormone (16 subjects) and luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone (14 subjects). The results of this study indicate that methyl-TRH is a more potent prolactin releaser than TRH. Like TRH, methyl-TRH has specificity in its effects on the pituitary, releasing only TSH and PRL in normal man.