Changes in opiate activity of rat pituitary following acute administration of neuroleptics.

An increase was found in the opiate activity of pituitary extracts obtained rom rats injected with the neuroleptic drugs trifluoperazine and sulpiride. The increase of opiate activity, measured by bioassay, was particularly evident 2 h after the administration of sulpiride. Dexamethasone completely prevented the neuroleptic-induced effect. Trifluoperazine and sulpiride may have affected dopaminergic mechanisms regulating endorphin storage in the pituitary.