Pituitary Gland Set 10

How many hormones does the pituitary gland produce?

How many hormones does the pituitary gland produce?

8

# of Anterior lobe hormones

6

# of Posterior lobe hormones

2

Where is the pituitary gland?

sella turcica

What happens if the Optic Chiasm in the pituitary gland is compressed?

Pituitary gland adenoma

Field of vision defects

What is Prolactin essential for?

Lactation

What happens to the levels of Prolactin during pregnancy?

◦Increases during pregnancy

◦peak level at term

Cause of Hyperprolactinemia

Increased prolactin secretion from the pituitary gland

What’s the most common abnormality associated with pituitary adenomas?

Hyperprolactinemia

How is prolactinomas associated with amenorrhea?

Amenorrhea is the loss of normal periods.

It is caused by the interference of prolactin on the normal fluctuation of LHRH

Higher prolactin = greater likelihood of amenorrhea

Hyperprolactinemia affects which age group primarily?

Affects premenopausal women, does not affect post.

In premenopausal women the release of GnRH is inhibited.

Hypogonadism is an associated synonym

If someone has Galacctorrhea can their prolactin levels be normal?

Yes

Symptoms associated with hypogonadism?

Infertility, oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea

rare galactorrhea

15 ng/mL

What kind of prolactin level is this?

High for women at a reproductive age

100 ng/mL

What kind of prolactin level is this?

Typically associated with overt hypogonadism

20- 50 ng/mL

Is someone has this prolactin level what does it mean?

Mildly increased result

Can cause infertility even if there is no abnormality of the menstrual cycle

What other endocrine disorder can cause hyperprolactinemia?

Primary hypothyroidism

Increases TRH (thyroid releasing hormone) by the hypothalamus

TFH stimulates prolactin (and TSH) release.

When would prolactin be measured?

Measure prolactin in all with fertility problems or galactorrhea

Explain these prolactin lab results:

◦<20 ng/ml in females

◦<15 in males

◦100-300 at term, in pregnancy

Normal levels of prolactin

What prolactin level is indicative of an adenoma?

100

300 is virtually diagnostic

Why is prolactin important in pregnancy?

Without prolactin there will not be any milk production