Effect of sulpiride on serum growth hormone and prolactin concentrations following L-DOPA administration in man

The effect of chronic administration of sulpiride on serum human growth hormone (hGH), prolactin and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was examined in 6 normal subjects. Sulpiride was given orally at a dose of 300 mg (t.i.d.) for 30 days. Sulpiride raised serum prolactin levels in all subjects examined. In addition, sulpiride suppressed hGH release induced by L-dopa, although the basal hGH level was not changed. Sulpiride treatment appeared to antagonize partially the inhibitory effect of L-dopa on prolactin release. Following thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) injection, the percent increment in prolactin levels from the baseline in sulpiride-treated subjects was less than in controls without sulpiride. In contrast, both the basal and TRH-stimulated TSH levels were not influenced by sulpiride. These observations suggest that sulpiride suppresses L-dopa-induced hGH release and stimulates prolactin release, presumably by acting against the dopaminergic mechanism either on the hypothalamus or on the pituitary. The decreased prolactin response to TRH after sulpiride treatment may indicate a diminished reserve capacity in pituitary prolactin release.