Evidence for dopamine-related and TRH-related pituitary TSH and PRL pools in patients with prolactinoma

The sources of TSH, which was excessively released by sulpiride (dopamine D2 receptor antagonist), were studied in 15 female patients with PRL-secreting adenoma (18-43 years). Sequential 3-day administration of sulpiride (100 mg, im) was given to 12 patients with prolactinoma and 6 normal female subjects (19-24 years). Patients with prolactinoma showed much greater TSH responses than normal subjects on the first day. However, TSH responses to sulpiride disappeared on the 2nd and 3rd day in both groups. In contrast, plasma PRL responses to the 1st sulpiride administration were smaller in patients with prolactinoma than in normal subjects, and the response disappeared following the 2nd administration in both groups. When TRH (500 micrograms, iv) was administered 120 min after the 3rd sulpiride injection, TSH and PRL increments were not different from those before the sulpiride injection in both patients with prolactinoma (N = 6) and normal subjects (N = 6). Further, combined administration of sulpiride and TRH in 5 patients with prolactinoma clearly enhanced the TSH and PRL responses compared with the single administration of each agent. These results suggest that there may be two readily releasable pituitary TSH and PRL pools, i.e. one dopamine-related and the other TRH-related, in patients with prolactinoma and normal female subjects.