Effect of lithium on the prolactin response to D-fenfluramine in healthy subjects.
We assessed the effect of two regimens of lithium treatment (3 days and 2 weeks) on brain serotonin (5-HT) function in healthy subjects by measuring the prolactin (PRL) responses to the 5-HT releasing agent, d-fenfluramine (30 mg) before and after lithium administration. Neither regime of lithium treatment altered d-fenfluramine-induced PRL release. These results are in contrast to the facilitation produced by lithium of the PRL responses to the 5-HT precursor L-tryptophan. The data suggest that the ability of lithium to increase brain 5-HT neurotransmission in humans may depend on interactions with particular 5-HT receptor subtypes or specific mechanisms of 5-HT release.
University Department of Psychiatry, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford, UK.
A C
AC
Power
C E
CE
Dorkins
P J
PJ
Cowen
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values
D005277:Fenfluramine; D011388:Prolactin; D008094:Lithium