Morphine can stimulate prolactin release independent of a dopaminergic mechanism

Prolactin release is controlled by prolactin-release inhibiting factor (PIF), possibly dopamine, and an unidentified putative hypothalamic prolactin-releasing factor (PRF). Morphine and related opioids may indirectly stimulate prolactin release by inhibiting PIF release and (or) by stimulating putative PRF release. In the present study, we have completely blocked the dopaminergic receptors in normal male rats by pretreatment with a large dose of pimozide (3 mg/kg) to demonstrate if putative PRF has a role in morphine-induced prolactin release. Morphine sulfate (10 mg/kg) was still able to stimulate prolactin release in the rat without any functional dopaminergic PIF receptors. When naloxone (3 mg/kg) was injected 20 min before the morphine in the pimozide-treated rat, plasma prolactin concentration was not affected by morphine indicating that the stimulatory effect of this opioid on prolactin release in the pimozide-pretreated rat was mediated by mu-receptors. We can conclude that morphine can stimulate prolactin release through a mechanism apparently independent of dopaminergic receptors, one possible route being through a putative PRF.