[A clinical study on the characteristics of galactorrhea-amenorrhea (especially of drug-induced galactorrhea-amenorrhea].

The clinical characteristics of women with galactorrhea and amenorrhea induced by drugs were studied. In addition, hyperprolactinemia was, experimentally, induced by sulpiride in women, and their endocrinological backgrounds were studied. The findings suggested that the mechanism of amenorrhea due to hyperprolactinemia was primarily the reduction of steroidogenesis in the ovary, and also the disturbance of positive feedback to the hypothalamus. Hyperprolactinemia was induced in rats by sulpiride, and the effect on pituitary lactotrophs was studied. In the hyperprolactinemic state caused by PIF inhibition by sulpiride it was indicated that there was a limit to prolactin secretion and release by the pituitary gland. It was also confirmed that a large amount of estradiol exerted a stimulating action directly on the PRL-producing cells of the pituitary gland.