Dopamine D1 receptor analogues act centrally to stimulate prolactin secretion in ewes

It is well known that prolactin secretion is inhibited by dopamine activity via the pituitary dopamine D2 receptor. Dopamine D1 receptor analogues also affect prolactin levels although the mechanisms and physiological significance are poorly understood. The present study of the ewe was undertaken to characterize the effects of the D1 receptor agonist SKF 38393 and antagonist SCH 23390 on prolactin in this species and to determine whether the prolactin response to both drugs requires an intact hypothalamo-pituitary axis. Ovariectomized ewes were injected intravenously with vehicle, 0.2, 2 or 20 mg SKF 38393 (D1 agonist) or SCH 23390 (D1 antagonist). At the 20 mg dose, plasma prolactin concentrations were significantly (P < 0.01) increased by each drug and returned within an hour to control levels. When injected directly into the lateral ventricles of the brain (intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection), a 100-fold lower dose of SKF 38393 (0.2 mg; P < 0.05) was sufficient to stimulate prolactin secretion. In contrast, i.c.v. injection of SCH 23390 (0.02 and 0.2 mg) had no effect on prolactin levels and at no dose was there evidence for suppression of prolactin levels. These results are in accord with earlier studies in the rat which suggested that the D1 agonist stimulated prolactin secretion via a direct effect on central dopamine D1 receptors whereas the D1 antagonist interacted with the pituitary dopamine D2 receptor to increase prolactin secretion. In a further experiment this hypothesis was tested in hypothalamo-pituitary disconnected ewes which were infused with dopamine (0.5 microgram/kg per min) for 3 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)