Failure of adrenergic alpha and beta receptor blockade to elevate the TSH and prolactin response to TRH in hyperthyroidism.

The effects of adrenergic alpha and beta receptor blockade on the thyrotrophin and prolactin responses to TRH were studied in groups of hyperthyroid patients who received either oral propranolol and phenoxybenzamine or intravenous propranolol and rogitine. The flat TSH and prolactin responses to TRH in the untreated hyperthyroid patients were not altered by oral or intravenous adrenergic alpha and beta receptor blockade suggesting that catecholamines do not play a major role in the feedback suppression of TSH and prolactin in hyperthyroidism.