The aim of this study was to evaluate the release of PRL to sauna-induced hyperthermia in 10 chronically alcohol-addicted male subjects after a few weeks of abstinence. In contrast with normal men the alcoholic men showed higher basal levels of PRL and the exposure to hyperthermic stress did not stimulate in PRL secretion. These results indicate that chronic alcohol abuse is associated with functional pituitary alterations similar to other states of addiction.