Reductions of body fat stores and total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in several species by bromocriptine treatment

Administrations (injections and in feed) of bromocriptine, a dopamine agonist that inhibits prolactin secretion, reduced body fat stores and plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in several rodent species (Syrian hamsters, Djungarian hamsters, Swiss Webster mice and obese Zucker rats). Body fat indices were reduced by at least 50% in the hamsters and mice within 10-15 days of treatment and by 29% in 8 weeks in the rats. Bromocriptine reduced total plasma cholesterol concentration by 17% in Syrian hamsters, 41% in mice and 30% in rats fasted before blood sampling. In nonfasted obese rats, bromocriptine dramatically reduced both cholesterol (from 440 to 130 mg/dl) and triglyceride (from 1570 to 540 mg/dl) levels compared with controls. These findings offer further evidence for a primary role of prolactin in lipid metabolism and indicate that bromocriptine may be useful for treating obesity and lipid-based cardiovascular disorders.