Effects of sulpiride on levels of FSH, LH and steroid hormones.

In order to study the effects of prolactin upon the gonadotrophins and steroid hormones, hyperprolactinaemia was induced by the administration of sulpiride. 12 men between the ages of 18 and 20 were given 3 capsules of 50 mg of sulpiride daily for a period of 15 days, and the following parameters being measured before and after the treatment: (prolactine, FSH, LH, testosterone, estradiol, ACTH and DHEA-S) by RIA, (cortisol) by fluorimetry and (etiocholanone, androsterone, pregnandiol, pregnantriol, pregnantriolone, 11-keto etiocholanone and 11-OH androsterone) by gas chromatography. Our results show that on termination of the treatment there was a significant rise in the prolactin and DHEA-S serum levels and a drop in the FSH serum levels but not of LH. In addition there was a marked increase in all the androgen levels studied, (etiocholanone, androsterone and 11-keto etiocholanone) with the exception of testosterone.