Effect of metergoline on serum prolactin stimulated by TRH

The PRL response to TRH was evaluated before and after acute administration of metergoline, an antiserotonin drug, in healthy subjects. The drug was given to two groups of 6 subjects each, at the dose of 4 and 8 mg respectively, either po or by im route. Metergoline significantly inhibited the PRL response to TRH; no significant difference was found between the two doses and the administration routes. Although these findings suggest that the drug may directly inhibit lactotropic cells, an action of metergoline on central nervous system to stimulate PIF or to inhibit PRF release cannot be ruled out, and might as well explain the inhibition of the PRL response to TRH.