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A low basal level of growth hormone (GH) was determined by radioimmunoassay in studying GH basal content, the circadian rhythm and the response to glucose load in patients with hyperprolactinemia. In subjects with hypophyseal adenoma, an anomalous GH response to glucose load and the disturbance of its circadian rhythm are seen. In patients not suffering from hypophyseal adenoma, the circadian curve of GH content is similar to the normal one on a lower level. A pronounced GH response to glucose load is absent in these patients.

An obvious relationship between changes in ACTH, gonadotrophin, prolactin and cortisol secretion was discovered on the basis of studying the basal ACTH, cortisol, LH, FSH and prolactin levels, as well as from correlative examination of the data obtained in 30 females with Icenko-Cushing's diseases. It is suggested that combined ACTH, gonadotrophin and prolactin secretion occurs in the active stage of the disease, whereas cortisol inhibits gonadotrophin production. A degree of gonadotrophic insufficiency is dependent on the ratio of excessive ACTH-cortisol secretion.

The paper is concerned with the results of a study of the level of plasma ACTH, cortisol and prolactin before and after i. v. injection of LHRH to 20 patients with Itsenko-Cushing disease and to 5 healthy persons. In healthy persons LHRH injection caused no significant changes in the level of plasma ACTH, cortisol and prolactin. Patients with Itsenko-Cushing disease who had a high basal level of corticotropin on the 30th min after i.v. LHRH injection demonstrated a significant increase in the hormone level. A response to LHRH injection was absent in patients with a normal basal level of corticotropin and in healthy persons. A statistically significant increase in cortisol concentration was noted on the 60th min after LHRH injection in some of the patients responding to LHRH by a high ACTH level. LHRH injection was not accompanied by significant changes in the level of plasma prolactin in either of the subgroups.

A total of 76 patients aged 18-39 with hyperprolactinemia were studied for the blood levels of serotonin and histamine and for the urinary ones of epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopa and dopamine. Blood levels of serotonin and histamine were recorded increased whereas the urinary levels of catecholamines were decreased. No correlation was shown between the intensity in the production of lactogenic hormone and those abnormalities found in the levels of the above mentioned amino groups. The shifts observed were supposed to reflect those general tendencies which took place in the central regulatory mechanisms of the gonadal system in patients with excessive production of lactogenic hormone.

Forty-eight women with prolactin-secreting adenomas of the hypophysis and 22 patients with suspected microadenomas, aged 16 to 38, were examined. The highest blood prolactin levels and the most manifest symptoms were revealed in the patients with x-ray evidence of hypophyseal macroadenoma. Prolactin levels were lower, though still elevated, in the cases with small adenomas. In the cases with high prolactin levels but without x-ray signs of hypophyseal adenoma the clinical symptoms were less manifest. LH concentrations were significantly reduced in all the patients. Seven patients in whom parlodel therapy was ineffective were operated on. In the rest parlodel therapy, carried out for 1-2 years, was conducive to stabilization of the tumor process, despite a recurrence of hyperprolactinemia.