title: Effect of diclofenac on plasma levels of immunoreactive prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, thyrotropin, and beta-endorphin in humans.
abstract: Prostaglandins have been shown to modulate the secretion of several pituitary hormones, suggesting that therapeutic doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may change basal hormone levels. In this study, plasma levels of prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, thyrotropin and beta-endorphin were determined in 6 healthy men after administration of diclofenac, a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor. The subjects were given 75 mg intramuscularly and 50 mg orally at 08.00 h the first day, 50 mg orally at 08.00, 12.00 and 20.00 h the second day and an additional 50 mg orally at 08.00 h the third day. Blood samples were collected throughout these 3 days. Diclofenac resulted in a significant and sustained decrease in plasma level of prolactin (p less than 0.005). The other hormones did not demonstrate significant change following diclofenac administration. These data suggest that administration of a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, such as diclofenac, selectively alters basal pituitary secretion of prolactin in humans without a detectable effect on plasma levels of other pituitary hormones. This study supports the hypothesis that prostaglandins are necessary for maintaining basal level of prolactin secretion in man.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Radioimmunology, State University of Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joris
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vrindts-Gevaert
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gathy-Meuleman
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hargreaves
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Franchimont
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004008:Diclofenac; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin