title: Pergolide, a potent long-acting dopamine-receptor agonist.
abstract: After single doses (100 to 400 microgram orally), pergolide, a synthetic ergot, reduced basal plasma prolactin levels in normal subjects in a dose-related manner. This effect persisted for more than 24 hr. Multiple doses of pergolide (150 to 250 microgram daily for 7 days) resulted in a plasma prolactin decrease of more than 80%. A single dose of pergolide (150 microgram orally) suppressed plasma prolactin and abolished the plasma prolactin diurnal rhythm, i.e., suppression of sleep-induced elevation in plasma prolactin during a 40-hr period. Perphenazine (5 mg intramuscularly)-induced plasma prolactin elevation was inhibited by pergolide; the effect was dose dependent. After single or multiple doses, pergolide had no effect on plasma follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, cortisol, growth hormone, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. Pergolide appears to have specificity at the pituitary level for the dopamine receptors that mediate prolactin secretion.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004873:Ergolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004876:Ergot Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D010479:Pergolide; D010546:Perphenazine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004873:Ergolines; D004876:Ergot Alkaloids; D006728:Hormones; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D010479:Pergolide; D001971:Bromocriptine; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D010546:Perphenazine