Dopaminergic control of adenohypophyseal growth after oestrogens: negative results with L-DOPA, RO-4-4602, alpha-methyl-DOPA, apomorphine, haloperidol, pyridoxine and cyproheptadine.

Chronic oestrogen treatment augments adenohypophyseal weight and the thyroxine-binding capacity of adenohypophyseal proteins in rats. Since these reactions are both inhibited by ergocornine and ergoline derivatives (as well as by the thyroid hormones, testosterone, anti-oestrogens and antiandrogens), and are potentiation by perphenazine and the dopaminergic neurone blocker Pimozide, the peroral effectiveness of various other substances presumed to act in the region of the dopaminergic or serotoninergic neurones of the hypothalamus was tested. L-DOPA (10 mg/rat/day) did not modify the adenohypophyseal reaction, either alone or combined with the DOPA-decarboxylate inhibitor Ro-4-4602 (1 mg/rat/day). alpha-Methyl-DOPA (10 mg/rat/day), apomorphine (3 mg/rat/day), haloperidol (0.2 mg/rat/day), pyridoxine (20 mg/rat/day) and cyproheptadine (1 mg/rat/day) were likewise ineffective.