Abstract
Serum prolactin and blood glucose levels were measured in 13 patients with type II diabetes mellitus and nine patients with liver cirrhosis (Bilharzial or post-hepatic or mixed) in addition to 13 normal controls. Basal serum prolactin levels in diabetic patients did not differ significantly from levels reported for control, while those of liver cirrhosis patients were significantly higher than those of both diabetic patients and controls. After oral glucose load, all the patients showed decreased glucose tolerance accompanied with hyperprolactinemia that was more apparent and persistent in liver-cirrhosis patients. Serum insulin levels that were feasible to be measured in six liver-cirrhosis patients, showed concomitant delayed insulin rise following the glucose load that was maintained longer than in control. These findings of glucose intolerance and hyperprolactinemia were discussed and interpreted on a suggestion to be secondary to various mechanisms including peripheral insulin resistance, gluconeogenesis and/or altered response of pancreatic B-cells to glucose loading.
Highlights
Pituitary hormone and cytokine Prolactin (PRL) is one of the mediators of the bidirectional communication between neuroendocrine and immune systems
Prolactin was shown earlier to act as a stimulating factor for the immune system and it might influence the development of autoimmune diseases, as in type-1 diabetes mellitus
The present study screens the changes in the level of serum prolactin after overnight fasting and following a glucose load dose in normal, diabetic patients and liver cirrhosis (Bilharzial or post- hepatic or mixed), to investigate the implication of prolactin in glucose intolerance
Summary
Pituitary hormone and cytokine Prolactin (PRL) is one of the mediators of the bidirectional communication between neuroendocrine and immune systems. The present study screens the changes in the level of serum prolactin after overnight fasting and following a glucose load dose (tolerance dose) in normal, diabetic patients (who were decided to be treated with hypoglycemic drugs) and liver cirrhosis (Bilharzial or post- hepatic or mixed), to investigate the implication of prolactin in glucose intolerance. The second group involved nine males representing the group of patients suffering from liver cirrhosis (Bilharzial or post-hepatic or mixed form) proved by clinical laboratory tests (liver function tests), abdominal ultrasound and liver biopsy Their ages varied between and 60 years. It was possible in this study to follow the pattern of serum insulin concentration in six participants of the control group and another six belongs to the liver cirrhosis group and their data will be included separately in the results. After 90 min, the level was decreased significantly from that of 30 min (p
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