[Measurement of basal plasma levels of 3 anterior pituitary hormones during acute or chronic treatment with tricyclic antidepressants].

Prolactin, growth hormone and thyrotropin plasma levels have been evaluated in depressive in-patients, either during the first day of clomipramine or amitriptyline treatment, or after their chronic administration. Prolactin levels temporary rise during the first day of clomipramine or amitriptyline treatment in 6 patients out of 11, with a lag in relation to the drug plasma peak. A significant increase is observed after a 28 days treatment with clomipramine and a non significant decrease, after a 28 days treatment with amitriptyline. As for human growth hormone, a rise is found in 5 out of 8 clomipramine treated subjects but neither any variation with amitriptyline nor any significant variation with chronic administration of both drugs occur. Finally, thyrotropin plasma levels display no variation after acute or prolonged treatment with clomipramine or amitriptyline. These results are compared with those of literature, then discussed in the light of present theories on pituitary hormones secretion aminergic control and of tricyclic antidepressants effect on these hormones.