title: Dopamine control of prolactin secretion in multiple endocrine neoplasia type I.
abstract: Taking advantage of high prevalence of prolactinomas in Newfoundland families with variant multiple endocrine neoplasia Type I (MEN I), we studied the control of prolactin secretion by dopamine in family members with prolactinomas (n = 6), family members who have hyperparathyroidism but no prolactinomas (n = 6), as well as healthy members (n = 8) in unaffected sibships. Four unrelated patients with empty sella syndrome were also studied as sella size controls for the prolactinoma group. Dopamine (2 micrograms/kg/min) was less effective in reducing serum prolactin in the prolactinoma group than in the other three groups studied; serum prolactin also showed little rebound in prolactin comparable to controls. Family members with hyperparathyroidism but no prolactinoma (and to a lesser degree the empty sella syndrome group) showed much less post-infusion rebound than controls. We conclude that family members genetically predisposed to prolactinoma (and patients with empty sella syndrome) may exhibit subtle abnormalities in dopaminergic control of prolactin secretion.
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D004652:Empty Sella Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D009377:Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin; D004298:Dopamine