Stimulation of prolactin secretion by L-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-serine (L-DOPS) via central norepinephrine in the rat

Intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-DOPS) (50 and 250 micrograms/rat) raised in a dose-related manner both plasma prolactin (PRL) and CSF norepinephrine (NE) in urethane-anesthetized male rats. Intravenous (iv) injection of larger doses of L-DOPS (5 and 10 mg/100 g BW) slightly but significantly increased plasma PRL and CSF NE. L-DOPS injection (50 micrograms/rat, icv or 5 mg/100 g BW, iv) also raised plasma PRL in conscious rats. There was a good correlation (r = 0.74) between CSF NE and peak plasma PRL in the anesthetized animals. Propranolol (100 micrograms/100 g BW, iv) inhibited plasma PRL responses to L-DOPS (50 micrograms/rat, icv) and NE injection (1 microgram/rat, icv) raised plasma PRL in anesthetized animals. These findings indicate that L-DOPS stimulates PRL secretion via central noradrenergic mechanisms in the rat.