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Inhibition of the renin‐aldosterone axis and of prolactm secretion during pregnancy by l ‐dopa
Author(s) -
KAULHAUSEN H.,
ÖNEY T.,
LEYENDECKER G.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1982.tb03642.x
Subject(s) - aldosterone , secretion , renin–angiotensin system , endocrinology , medicine , pregnancy , chemistry , biology , blood pressure , genetics
Summary. Recently, interactions between dopaminergic mechanisms and aldosterone secretion were described in non‐pregnant subjects. The present study examined the effect of 1000 mg of l‐dopa by mouth on plasma renin activity (PRA), and the concentrations of plasma aldosterone (PA) and prolactin (PRL) during normal pregnancy. Under basal conditions, there was a clear decrease of PRA, PA and PRL 60 min after oral intake of L‐dopa in seven subjects; a further decrease was observed during the following 45 min, resulting in a total decrease of 41 (PRA), 44 (PA) and 56 (PRL) % of the respective arithmetic mean of the basal values. However, the response of PA to isopressor angiotensin II infusions was comparable before and shortly after treatment with l‐dopa in 16 pregnant subjects. The decreased activity of the renin‐aldosterone axis after administration of l‐dopa may be attributed to an accumulation of dopamine and cate‐cholamines in the brain, resulting in a diminution of sympathetic outflow from the central nervous system. The simultaneous and comparable changes of both PRA and PA after L‐dopa treatment, as well as the reversibility of aldosterone suppression by infusion of angiotensin II, suggest that the inhibition of aldosterone secretion by L‐dopa is mediated by a decrease of renin release.