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Scientists have learned how to treat endocrine infertility
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
It is well known that breastfeeding increases the secretion of the hormone prolactin and inhibits ovulation in women, which prevents the occurrence of a new pregnancy. Therefore, breastfeeding can be used for birth control, as a contraceptive.
In addition to breastfeeding, prolactin is produced in other circumstances. The most common cause of its secretion is tumors. Women suffering from such diseases do not ovulate, which may be due to the effect of excess prolactin on the functioning of the ovaries.
Hyperprolactinemia is one of the main causes of anovulation and is responsible for menstrual irregularities and infertility. However, science knew little about the details of the mechanism that causes this pathology. The most that scientists could operate with was knowledge of elevated prolactin levels and its impact on female reproductive function, as well as information about the disruption of the production of the hormone gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), one of the most important hormones affecting the reproductive system and fertility.
Until now, specialists could not understand the inhibition of prolactin in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons. Therefore, researchers came up with another version. They suggested that these processes could be caused by the action of other molecules.
Experts have found that prolactin has an indirect effect on gonadotropin-releasing hormone.
To conduct the study experimentally, the scientists conducted experiments on mice. They found that prolactin effectively suppresses the secretion of neurons located above the gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons, which are necessary for their functioning. They secrete a neurohormone known as kisseptin.
By introducing the neurohormone kisspeptin, it is possible to restore the production of the hormone gonadotropin-releasing hormone and thus restart the functioning of the ovaries, despite hyperprolactinemia.
This explains the link between infertility and hyperprolactinemia and provides hope for the development of new approaches to treating infertility.
"This is a remarkable result," the researchers say, "and means that treatment with kisseptin may help restore reproductive function in women with hyperprolactinemia."
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