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Altered Growth Hormone and Prolactin Responses to Dopaminergic Stimulation in Huntington's Chorea

TOMMASO CARACENI, ALBERTO E. PANERAI^*, EUGENIO A. PARATI, DANIELA COCCHI and EUGENIO E. MÜLLER

^* Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milano, and Departments of Pharmacology (2nd Chair) Departments of Pharmacology 20129 Milan, Italy
Experimental Endocrinology, University of Milan 20129 Milan, Italy

Reprint requests to: E. E. Miiller, M.D., Chair of Experimental Endocrinology, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milan, Italy.

Seven patients affected by Huntington's chorea were given an acute administration of 2-Br--ergocryptine (CB 154, Sandoz), a direct agonist at dopamine receptor sites. Seven nonobese hospitalized patients were used as controls. Oral administration of CB 154 (2.5 mg) induced a more prompt and consistent rise in plasma growth hormone (GH) levels in patients than in controls. GH levels rose from baseline values of 0.3 ±0.1 ng/ml to mean peak values of 20.4±5.1 ng/ml (120–270 min) in choreic subjects and from baseline values of 1.0±0.4 ng/ml to mean peak values of 5.7±1.6 ng/ml (180–300 min) in control subjects (P <0.02). Baseline plasma prolactin (PRL) values were significantly higher in choreic than in control subjects (22.1±6.6 ng/ml vs. 8.1±1.4 ng/ml, respectively, P<0.02); administration of CB 154 induced a more consistent PRL decrease in control than in choreic subjects. Collectively, these results suggest the existence of an abnormal regulation of GH and PRL secretion in Huntington's chorea, probably due to alterations in central dopaminergic neurotransmission.

Received September 20, 1976.

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