Effect of bromocriptine on the hypothalamo-pituitary function in adult male rats

Abstract

Daily oral administration of bromocriptine (50 μg/kg) to adult male rats, suppressed serum prolactin levels. The pituitary prolactin levels remained unaltered. Serum FSH levels as well as pituitary FSH levels showed no significant change as compared to the controls. Serum LH levels were significantly decreased in spite of the high pituitary LH levels, in bromocriptine treated rats. In the drug treated rats, in vitro sensitivity of the pituitary to the exogenous LH-RH was not altered; whereas hypothalamic LH-RH content was considerably lowered. These observations suggest the possible effect of bromocriptine on the synthesis of LH-RH in the hypothalamus which leads to the accumulation of LH in the pituitary and decline of serum LH.