title: Suppressive effect of L-dopa on human prolactin release during sleep.
abstract: Immunoreactive plasma human prolactin (HPr) and human growth hormone (HGH) concentrations were measured in six normal young men with polygraphic sleep monitoring during normal sleep and during sleep in which l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) was infused intravenously at a rate of 0.8 to 1.0 mg/min. The intravenous infusion of l-DOPA significantly suppressed the episodic release of HPr during sleep and the occurrence of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. However, HGH release during sleep was not remarkably influenced by l-DOPA. These results suggest that central catecholaminergic neural mechanisms are related to both sleep-related HPr release and REM sleep, but do not play an important role in sleep-related HGH release.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012890:Sleep; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007980:Levodopa; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone