title: Differences between morning and afternoon hormonal responses to D-fenfluramine in healthy humans.
abstract: The prolactin (PRL) and cortisol responses to oral D-fenfluramine (30 mg) and placebo were measured in seven healthy subjects (two women and five men) in the morning and in the afternoon. As compared to placebo, D-fenfluramine significantly increased plasma PRL levels in both the morning and the afternoon, with no significant circadian difference. On the contrary, D-fenfluramine significantly enhanced plasma cortisol levels in the afternoon, but not in the morning. These data suggest that the time of the day at which the D-fenfluramine challenge test is carried out may be an important variable in determining the glucocorticoid response to the 5-HT releasing agent in humans.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, First Medical School, Second University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monteleone
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bortolotti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Orazzo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Serino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maj
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005277:Fenfluramine; D012701:Serotonin; D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone