RELATIONSHIP OF CHANGES IN SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF PROLACTIN AND TESTOSTERONE DURING DOPAMINERGIC MODULATION IN MALES

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Abstract
To evaluate the effect of PRL [prolactin] on the male pituitary-gonadal system, serum concentrations of PRL, testosterone (T), LH [luteinizing hormone] and FSH were determined in healthy young men daily before, during and after 3-day oral administration of bromocriptine, metoclopramide or sulpiride. Bromocriptine (2.5 mg as a single dose) caused, concurrently with a marked suppression of serum PRL, a significant increase of serum T and a transient decrease of serum LH. The changes of PRL and T were negatively correlated. With metoclopramide (10 mg 4 times a day) serum PRL was increased and T inversely decreased. There was no change in LH and FSH. Sulpiride (50 mg 4 times a day) evoked the elevation of serum PRL and LH, but no change in T. A significant increase in serum concentration of T was also observed in a patient with PRL-producing pituitary tumor and 4 out of 7 patients with acromegaly during bromocriptine treatment. Apparently, there is an inhibitory effect of PRL on T secretion at the gonadal level, or direct dopaminergic stimulatory control of T secretion.

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