Influence of bromocriptine on plasma prolactin, human placental lactogen, beta-HCG and steroid hormones in early human pregnancy.

To study the role of prolactin in the regulation of the production of 17 beta-oestradiol, HPL, beta-HCG, progesterone, testosterone, delta 4-androstenedione and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, 20 healthy women were given 5 mg of bromocriptine daily for two weeks between 7-9 weeks of normal pregnancy. Plasma HPRL, HPL, HCG, oestradiol, progesterone, testosterone, delta 4-androstenedione and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone levels were measured before and one and two weeks after the start of bromocriptine-application, and they were compared with those examined in control groups (18 women). Bromocriptine induced a significant HPRL depression at one week and two weeks. Other hormones, except progesterone, showed no significant differences between two groups. These data suggest that neither maternal hypoprolactinemia nor bromocriptine during normal early human pregnancy interfere with the normal synthesis of sex steroids.