Prolactin response to buspirone challenge in the presence of dopaminergic blockade

Buspirone-stimulated prolactin release has been employed as an indirect measure of central serotonin activity; however, it is not clear whether serotonergic or dopaminergic systems are responsible for this response. In an attempt to further elucidate the mechanism, we studied the prolactin response...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychiatry (1969) 1995-08, Vol.38 (4), p.235-239
Main Authors: Maskall, Douglas D., Zis, Athanasios P., Lam, Raymond W., Clark, Campbell M., Kuan, Annie J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - drug effects
Buspirone
Buspirone - adverse effects
Buspirone - pharmacology
challenge
dopamine
Dopamine - metabolism
Dopamine Antagonists - pharmacology
Double-Blind Method
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
metoclopramide
Metoclopramide - pharmacology
Neuropharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Placebos
prolactin
Prolactin - biosynthesis
Prolactin - blood
Prolactin - metabolism
Psycholeptics: tranquillizer, neuroleptic
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopharmacology
serotonin
Serotonin - metabolism
Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone - pharmacology
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Summary:Buspirone-stimulated prolactin release has been employed as an indirect measure of central serotonin activity; however, it is not clear whether serotonergic or dopaminergic systems are responsible for this response. In an attempt to further elucidate the mechanism, we studied the prolactin response to buspirone in eight subjects in the presence of maximal dopaminergic receptor blockade with metoclopramide under placebo-controlled, double-blind conditions. The prolactin response to buspirone in the presence of metoclopramide was not statistically different from that to placebo under the same conditions. The demonstration of further prolactin release by a bolus of thyrotropin-releasing hormone under maximal dopaminergic receptor blockade provided evidence against potential pituitary prolactin depletion by metoclopramide. These results lend further support to a dopaminergic mechanism in buspirone-induced prolactin secretion: therefore, further caution is warranted in interpreting the results of this challenge test as a measure of serotonergic activity in the brain.
ISSN:0006-3223
1873-2402
DOI:10.1016/0006-3223(94)00264-4