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| Study on relationship between volume of pituitary gland and changes of hormone levels after delivery |
| REN Bo-xu1, HUANG Jin-bai1, LEI Hong-wei2, CHEN Zhe2, ZHANG Xiao-fang1, YANG Liu2 |
| 1. Medical School of Yangtze University, Jingzhou Hubei 434000, China;2. The Firtst Affiliated People’s Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou Hubei 434000, China |
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Abstract Objective: To explore the changes of morphology of pituitary gland and hormone levels after normal delivery. Methods: Fifty volunteers underwent MRI examination and clinical biochemistry analysis on the 7th day, in the 3rd, 6th and 9th month after natural delivery respectively. 3D-SPGR with 3D T1WI sequence was employed in the scanning of pituitary. We measured the volume and signal intensity of gland in each period of time in the image workstation. To determine the hormone levels, the radioimmunoassay method was adopted. Results: The mean volume of the pituitary was (548±44)mm3 on the 7th day, (526±42)mm3 in the 3rd month, (518±41)mm3 in the 6th month, and (516±41)mm3 in the 9th month after delivery. Comparing the signal intensity of anterior lobe of the pituitary with the pon, there were significant differences in their signal contrast between 7 days and 3 months, as well as 3 and 6 months after delivery. There was no significant difference between 6 and 9 months. Serum level of PRL was the highest on the 7th day and decreased to normal after 6 months; levels of TSH and β-HCG reached the highest on the 7th day and returned to normal after 3 months; the level of E2 was normal after 7 days. Conclusion: The volume of pituitary reduces gradually after delivery. Signal intensity of the anterior lobe declines gradually, and there is a certain correlation between the morphologic changes and levels of hormones.
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Received: 11 March 2008
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2009, Vol. 20 
