Question

Suppose that a woman had to have part of her thyroid gland surgically removed. She would most likely suffer from a condition known as hypothyroidism due to too little thyroid function.

Predict how this woman's hypothyroidism would affect prolactin levels in her body.

Which choice describes how surgical hypothyroidism would likely affect prolactin levels?

Which choice describes how surgical hypothyroidism would likely affect prolactin levels?

1.Thyroid hormone levels decrease, TRH levels decrease, and PRL levels decrease.
2. Thyroid hormone levels decrease, TRH levels decrease, and PRL levels increase.
3. Thyroid hormone levels decrease, TRH levels increase, and PRL levels decrease.
4.Thyroid hormones levels decrease, TRH levels increase, and PRL levels increase.
5.Thyroid hormone levels increase, TRH levels increase, and PRL levels increase.
6. Thyroid hormone levels increase, TRH levels increase, and PRL levels decrease.
7. Thyroid hormone levels increase, TRH levels decrease, and PRL levels increase.

Answer 1

Answer:

4. Thyroid hormone levels decrease, TRH level increase, PRL level increase

Explanation:

Surgical removal of Thyroid gland will lead to hypothyroidism.

Normally, the surgery is followed by maintenance dose of thyroxine to avoid side effects.

In the presence of hypothyroidism, however, the decreased thyroid hormone will lead to increase in thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH). increased TRH increases production of prolactin. (but less than that in prolactinoma)

Answer 2

Answer: hypothyroidism causes an elevation of TRH which causes an elevation of prolactin.

4

Explanation: hormone decrease leads to rapid decrease in T3 and T4 which would allow the thyroid regulatory hormone(TRH) TO increase due to the non existence of thyroid gland necessary for T3 and T4, and without the presence of thyroid hormones to counter the production of prolactin hence, the level of prolactin would increase.