American Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 2015, 5(3): 135-139 DOI: 10.5923/j.ajmms.20150503.05 Role of Prolactin in Iraqi Obese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Jasmine S. Hasan 1,* , Alia H. Ali 1 , Muhammad-Baqir M-R. Fakhrildin 2 1 College of science for Women, Baghdad University, Baghdad, Iraq 2 High Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies, AL-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq Abstract Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone which produces by the pituitary gland during pregnancy and lactation. In some cases, it is slightly elevated in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study was aimed to find the relationship between prolactin (PRL) level and BMI in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. The present study was carried out on (51) PCOS women and (10) healthy women as controls at High Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies/AL-Nahrain University, from February to August, 2014. Prolactin and OGTT were performed for all women. Descriptive data including age and BMI were recorded for all subjects. Significant increment (P<0.05) in the BMI value was observed for PCOS subgroup with insulin resistance and for PCOS women with age (25.63±0.676 years). Significant increment (P<0.05) of serum PRL level was observed for obese PCOS women with insulin resistance as compared with controls. Also, highly significant increment (P<0.05) of PRL level was assessed in PCOS age group (A) with mean age (18.91±0.285) and (B) with mean age (25.63±0.676) as compared with controls. OGTT observed in obese women and in PCOS women with age mean (25.63±0.676) were significantly increased (P<0.05) as compared with controls. In conclusion, PRL level was associated with obesity and insulin resistance in PCOS patients. Keywords Prolactin, Obese Women, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome 1. Introduction Prolactin (PRL) is a polypeptide hormone produced by the pituitary gland and plays an important role in the differentiation of normal mammary epithelium. It's contained 200 amino acids and prepares the physiology for lactation and maternal care in women [1]. The elevation in PRL levels is normal during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Furthermore, PRL can abnormally increase because of a disease or the use of certain medications [2]. For unclear reasons, some of the PCOS women may have a slightly increment in prolactin levels [3]. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, which affects 5-10% of women [4]. About 50% of PCOS patients are obese or they have a greater risk of overweight, obesity, and central obesity [5]. Obesity is a common finding in PCOS and aggravates many of its reproductive and metabolic features. The correlation between PCOS and obesity is complex and not well understood, which involves the interaction of genetic and environmental factors [6]. Women with high PCOS have 76.5% prevalence of insulin * Corresponding author: jasmine.sarmad@yahoo.com (Jasmine S. Hasan) Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/ajmms Copyright © 2015 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved resistance and upper body obesity which in turn aggravates insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism of women with PCOS and modulate β–cell function [7]. PCOS case similar to hyperprolactinemic are both common causes of secondary amenorrhea in women. The correlation between PCOS and hyperprolactinemia so far has been reported still with argumentative results. It appears that PCOS is very dominant with hyperprolactinemia, though there are variant reasons of altered regulation of gonadotropin secretion and suggests that these conditions have independent origins [3]. Therefore, the aim of this study is to find the relationship between prolactin level and obesity in PCOS women. 2. Materials and Methods This study was carried out at the laboratory of Hormonal and Biochemical assays of High Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies / AL-Nahrain University from February to August, 2014. From a total of 61 women with age range 17-49 were studied, 51 women were suffering from PCOS, and 10 healthy women were considered as controls to compare with PCOS's women. Blood samples (2.5 mL) were collected from each fasting woman in the morning, and 75 gm of glucose loaded in 400-500 mL of water and given to the subjects. The collected blood was transferred to gel and clot activator tube