Effects of cimetidine on the secretion of some pituitary hormones

Cimetidine infused intravenously into 6 healthy volunteers did not induce significant changes in plasma levels of prolactin (hPRL), thyreotropin (hTSH), gonadotropin (hLH and hFSH) and growth hormone (hGH). Conversely it caused a significant increase in prolactin response to TRH without modifying the hTSH response to thyreotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and gonadotropin response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Data obtained in these experiments, together with data reported in the literature, suggest that the amplified prolactin response to TRH observed during cimetidine infusion, is likely to be connected with a blockade of H2-receptors rather than to unspecific actions of cimetidine.