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Horm Metab Res 1985; 17(6): 319-320
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1013532
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© Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart · New York

Gonadal Steroids Deficiency and Prolactin Response to a Met-Enkephalin Analog in Man

C. Foresta, G. Scanelli, A. Tramarin, S. Marra, C. Scandellari
  • Istituto di Semeiotica Medica, Cattedra di Patologica Medica III, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy
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Publication History

1984

1985

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

The aim of this study was to ascertain whether there is a correlation between gonadal steroids and opioid control of prolactin (PRL) secretion. Four castrated men, aged 18 to 24 years were submitted to intravenous injection of 250 ug of a met-enkephalin analog (D-Ala2-Mephe4-Met-(o)-ol-Enkephalin, FK 33824) (DAMME). In normal men DAMME injection was also performed on the 6th day after treatment with clomiphene citrate (CC (200 mg/day for 5 days), a specific nonsteroidal estrogen receptor blocker. In castrated men and in normal men after CC treatment, there was a lower PRL response to DAMME than in controls (P < 0.0005). These results suggest that gonadal steroid deficiency seems to cause a change in the opioid system and/or in dopaminergic control of prolactin secretion.

Key-Words:

Prolactin - Met-Enkephalin Analog - Gonadal Steroids - Man