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THE EFFECT OF KETANSERIN, A SPECIFIC SEROTONIN ANTAGONIST ON THE PRL, GH, ACTH AND CORTISOL RESPONSES TO HYPOGLYCAEMIA IN NORMAL SUBJECTS
Author(s) -
PRESCOTT R. W. G.,
KENDALLTAYLOR P.,
WEIGHTMAN D. R.,
WATSON M. J.,
RATCLIFFE W. A.
Publication year - 1984
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.1365-2265.1984.tb00068.x
Subject(s) - ketanserin , endocrinology , medicine , prolactin , serotonin , 5 ht receptor , insulin , receptor antagonist , hormone , antagonist , receptor
SUMMARY The role of serotonin in the prolactin, growth hormone, ACTH and cortisol responses to hypoglycaemia has been investigated in normal subjects using a selective serotonin (5HT 2 ) receptor antagonist, ketanserin. Circulating concentrations of these hormones were measured after administration of insulin (0·1 units/kg body weight iv) to eight normal male subjects with and without simultaneous iv ketanserin (10 mg). Plasma glucose fell to less than 2·0 mmol/l in all subjects and was unaffected by ketanserin. Ketanserin induced a 50% decrease in the serum prolactin response to hypoglycaemia, 45 and 60 min after administration of insulin (increase in serum prolactin at 60 min: 1145 ± 295 mU/l without ketanserin; 558 ± 176 mU/l with ketanserin, P < 0·05). The peak ACTH response was reduced by 30% (95·3 ± 33·6 ng/l without ketanserin; 60·0 ± 22·9 ng/l with ketanserin, P < 0‐05) but the plasma cortisol response was not significantly altered. The serum growth hormone response was unaffected by serotonin blockade. These findings suggest that serotonin, probably acting through 5HT 2 receptors, is involved in the stimulation of prolactin and ACTH release but not in the release of growth hormone, during insulin induced hypoglycaemia.