Pituitary function during the sexual maturation of the male rat: inhibition of prolactin secretion by exogenous dopamine.

Experiments were designed to determine if the responsiveness of the anterior pituitary to the prolactin (Prl) inhibiting effects of dopamine were altered during the sexual maturation of the male rat. Initial experiments established that bolus injection of dopamine HCl into cannulated (left carotid) rats pretreated with alpha-methyl-p -tyrosine (MPT) resulted in an appropriate reduction of serum Prl and that the MPT treatment did not significantly alter testosterone or luteinizing hormone (LH). Immature (25-30 days), pubertal (50-55 days), and young adult (75-80 days) rats were studied. One hour after MPT administration a blood sample was collected, followed by administration via the cannula of 2.5, 10, 40 or 160 micrograms dopamine/100 g BW or the 5% glucose vehicle. Additional blood samples were collected 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after dopamine. MPT administration resulted in a significant increase in serum Prl compared to saline-treated controls at all ages; however, the absolute value of these increases varied significantly with age. Subsequent data were calculated in terms of the decrement in serum Prl versus Time O. In immature rats the 160-micrograms dose of dopamine resulted in a significant inhibition of Prl at 15 and 30 min when compared to glucose-treated controls. In pubertal animals, 40 micrograms dopamine was effective in inhibiting Prl at both 15 and 30 min. In young adult rats, 10 micrograms dopamine was effective at 15 and 30 min; 160 micrograms lowered Prl through 45 min. These data suggest that the responsiveness of the pituitary to the Prl inhibiting effects of dopamine increases during the sexual maturation of the male rat.