Dynamic evaluation of prolactin secretion in essential hypertension: evidence against hypothalamic-pituitary dopaminergic dysfunction.

Hyperprolactinemia has previously been noted in patients with essential hypertension and it has been suggested that the increased PRL levels in this condition may reflect reduced central dopaminergic activity. In the present study, PRL secretion was evaluated in 17 patients with essential hypertension and in 9 normal controls as an indirect index of hypothalamic-pituitary dopaminergic activity. PRL levels were measured basally, at night, and after TRH (200 micrograms, iv), metoclopramide (10 mg, orally), and L-dopa (500 mg, orally). Basal PRL levels were similar in both groups [essential hypertension, 301.2 +/- 176.2 microunits/ml; controls, 334.2 +/- 98.8 microunits/ml (mean +/- SD)]. No differences in PRL levels were found after TRH, L-dopa, and metoclopramide or during sleep between the 2 groups. When the patients were classified according to their PRA, no differences were noticed in either basal levels or the patterns of PRL response. It is concluded that PRL secretion is normal in patients with essential hypertension, which could be indirect evidence against reduced hypothalamic-pituitary dopaminergic activity in this disease. However, minor abnormalities not detected by PRL measurements could be involved in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension.

[1]  P. Weidmann,et al.  Plasma prolactin in normal and hypertensive subjects: relationships with age, posture, blood pressure, catecholamines, and renin. , 1980, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[2]  T. Hamilton,et al.  Plasma prolactin concentrations in hypertensive rats , 1979, The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology.

[3]  B. Wexler,et al.  Aldosterone, deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, and prolactin changes during the lifespan of chronically and spontaneously hypertensive rats. , 1979, Endocrinology.

[4]  R. Carey,et al.  Effects of metoclopramide and bromocriptine on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in man. Dopaminergic control of aldosterone. , 1979, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[5]  M. Thorner,et al.  THE EFFECTS OF DOPAMINE, BROMOCRIPTINE, LERGOTRILE AND METOCLOPRAMIDE ON PROLACTIN RELEASE FROM CONTINUOUSLY PERFUSED COLUMNS OF ISOLATED RAT PITUITARY CELLS , 1979, Clinical endocrinology.

[6]  J. Kebabian,et al.  Multiple receptors for dopamine , 1979, Nature.

[7]  J. Sowers,et al.  Pituitary Response to TRH and LHRH in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats , 1978, Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.

[8]  R. Weiner,et al.  In vitro supersensitivity of the anterior pituitary to dopamine inhibition of prolactin secretion. , 1978, Endocrinology.

[9]  M. Gutkin,et al.  Plasma prolactin in essential and renovascular hypertension. , 1978, The Journal of laboratory and clinical medicine.

[10]  C. Gomez-Sanchez,et al.  PROLACTIN IN HYPERTENSION , 1977, The Lancet.

[11]  A. Henderson,et al.  HYPERPROLACTINÆMIA AND ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFECT OF BROMOCRIPTINE IN ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION , 1977, The Lancet.

[12]  G. Burrow,et al.  TRH and dopamine interactions affecting pituitary hormones secretion. , 1977, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[13]  U. Lewis,et al.  A homologous radioimmunoassay for human prolactin. , 1973, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[14]  K. Lu,et al.  Effects of L-dopa on serum prolactin and PIF in intact and hypophysectomized, pituitary-grafted rats. , 1972, Endocrinology.

[15]  L. I. Goldberg,et al.  Cardiovascular and renal actions of dopamine: potential clinical applications. , 1972, Pharmacological reviews.

[16]  A. Tashjian,et al.  Thyrotropin releasing hormone: direct evidence for stimulation of prolactin production by pituitary cells in culture. , 1971, Biochemical and biophysical research communications.

[17]  E. Haber,et al.  Application of a radioimmunoassay for angiotensin I to the physiologic measurements of plasma renin activity in normal human subjects. , 1969, The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.

[18]  J. Meldolesi,et al.  Studies on rat pituitary homografts. II. Effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on in vitro biosynthesis and release of growth hormone and prolactin. , 1979, Endocrinology.

[19]  E. Raftery,et al.  Blood pressure circadian rhythm in essential hypertension. , 1978, Clinical science and molecular medicine. Supplement.

[20]  B. J. Clark,et al.  Cardiovascular actions of bromocriptine. , 1978, Acta endocrinologica. Supplementum.

[21]  M. Yasujima,et al.  Interaction of dopamine, methyldopa and reserpine in the sympatho-adrenal system in essential hypertension. , 1976, Clinical science and molecular medicine. Supplement.