Etomidate inhibits prolactin release but not through a dopaminergic mechanism

A short-acting non-barbiturate intravenous general anaesthetic, etomidate, when administered i.v. lowered serum prolactin levels in the rat. The effect was evident at rest, after surgical stress or after injection of 5-hydroxytryptophan. Haloperidol-induced hyperprolactinaemia was not modified. Administered via the intracerebroventricular route, etomidate strongly reduced serum prolactin levels in unanesthetized rats. Studies performed on superfused synaptosomes from brain areas rich in dopaminergic nerve endings did not show any influence of the etomidate, 10(-7) M-10(-6) M, on [3H]dopamine release. A peculiar GABA-like mechanism and/or possible interplay with serotonergic control of the prolactin release may be postulated in order to explain the suppressive effects of the drug on secretion of lactotrophs.