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Failure of Metoclopramide to Affect Thyrotropin Concentration in the Term Human Fetus^*

Cattedra di Endocrinologia e Patobgia Constituzionale, Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica dell'Universitá di Parma, Parma, and Diuisione di Ostetricia e Ginecologia dell'Ospedale E. Franchini, Montecchio Emilia, Italy; and the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605

Address requests for reprints to: Dr. Lewis E. Braverman, Division of Endocrinology/Metabolism, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Medicine, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605.

Metoclopramide (MET), a potent dopamine receptor-blocking drug, or saline was administered to 125 term pregnant women at various time intervals (5–412 min) before delivery. Maternal serum was obtained before and after MET injection. Cord blood was obtained at delivery in MET-treated and saline-treated (control group) women. No significant changes in serum TSH, T₄, T₃, or rT₃ concentrations were observed in maternal or cord blood after MET administration.

These results suggest that, in contrast to euthyroid nonpregnant women and men, MET administration does not induce a rise in serum TSH concentration in term pregnant women or in the term fetus. Thus, the dopaminergic inhibitory effect on anterior pituitary TSH secretion may not be an important factor in TSH regulation during pregnancy or in the fetus, or the dose of MET employed may be unable to overcome the dopamine inhibitory effect. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 56: 1071, 1983)

^* This work was supported in part by Grant AM-18919 from the NIAMDD, NIH (Bethesda, MD), and CNR Grant CR 82.00 201.04.

Received August 2, 1982.