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PROLACTIN RELEASE BY INTRAVENOUS CIMETIDINE IN MAN: EVIDENCE FOR A SUPRAPITUITARY LOCUS OF ACTION
Author(s) -
FERRARI C.,
CALDARA R.,
BARBIERI C.,
CAMBIELLI M.,
BIERTI L.,
ROMUSSI M.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1979.tb03116.x
Subject(s) - prolactin , cimetidine , endocrinology , medicine , histamine , dopamine , carbidopa , basal (medicine) , dopamine receptor , chemistry , pharmacology , levodopa , hormone , disease , parkinson's disease , insulin
SUMMARY In an attempt to identify the sites at which cimetidine stimulates prolactin release, the drug was administered intravenously (6 mg/kg body weight) to healthy subjects under basal conditions, during dopamine infusion (1/μg/Kg‐min for 120 min) and after pretreatment with L‐dopa plus carbidopa (250 plus 25 mg every 6 h for 1 day). The serum prolactin response to cimetidine was abolished by dopamine infusion and almost completely suppressed by L‐dopa plus carbidopa administration. These findings suggest that the drug acts on the central nervous system to stimulate prolactin release. Although the mechanism of this action is unclear, it does not seem to depend on an antidopaminergic effect and may be related to blockade of brain H2 histamine receptors.