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Absence of Growth Hormone Response to L-Dopa and Bromocriptine in Hyperprolactinemic Women with Pituitary Microadenoma

Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Neurosurgery, National Defense Medical College Saitama 359, Japan

Address requests for reprints to: Katsuyoshi Seki, M.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Defense Medical College, Namiki 3-2, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359, Japan.

The administration of an amino acid precursor of both dopamine and norepinephrine, L-dopa, or of a dopamine agonist, bromocriptine, did not alter basal GH secretion in hyperprolactinemic women with pituitary microadenoma, whereas both significantly increased serum GH levels in normal women. The findings cannot be accounted for by decreasedpituitary GH reserve, since in hyperprolactinemic women, insulin elicited an increase in GH levels similar to its action in normal women. Thus, the mechanism by which L-dopa or bromocriptine stimulates GH secretion appears to be different from that of insulin.

Received April 15, 1985.