Effect of buspirone on prolactin and growth hormone secretion in laboratory rodents and man.
Preclinical studies have shown buspirone to have some characteristics of both a dopamine (DA) agonist and antagonist. Neuroendocrine and neurochemical studies were conducted to determine which actions occur in rats and man. Buspirone produced a dose-dependent increase in rat plasma prolactin (PRL) levels and enhanced the increase in plasma PRL levels produced by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine and gamma-butyrolactone. Buspirone also blocked the inhibitory effect of dopamine on PRL secretion in vitro, which is consistent with the action of a DA antagonist. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study using eight normal male volunteers, buspirone (30, 60, and 90 mg) produced a dose-related increase in PRL levels 60-180 minutes later, and a significant increase in growth hormone in six of the eight volunteers, which could be evidence for a DA agonist effect in the human hypothalamus. The anxiolytic effects of buspirone could be due to either DA agonist or antagonist effects.
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002065:Buspirone; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D012110:Reserpine; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D006220:Haloperidol; D003975:Diazepam; D002065:Buspirone