This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Fitzgerald, P. Articles by Dinan, T. G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fitzgerald, P. Articles by Dinan, T. G Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Prolactin and dopamine: What is the connection? A Review Article

Department of Psychiatry and Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

Timothy G Dinan

Department of Psychiatry and Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland, T.Dinan{at}ucc.ie

Dopamine (DA) holds a predominant role in the regulation of prolactin (PRL) secretion. Through a direct effect on anterior pituitary lactotrophs, DA inhibits the basally high-secretory tone of the cell. It accomplishes this by binding to D2 receptors expressed on the cell membrane of the lactotroph, activation of which results in a reduction of PRL exocytosis and gene expression by a variety of intracellular signalling mechanisms. The hypothalamic dopaminergic neurons, which provide DA to the anterior pituitary gland, are themselves regulated by feedback from PRL through a short-loop feedback mechanism . A variety of other modulators of prolactin secretion act at the hypothalamic level by either disinhibition of the dopaminergic tone (e.g. serotonin, GABA, oestrogens and opioids) or by reinforcing it (e.g. substance P). All typical antipsychotic medications are associated with sustained hyperprolactinaemia due to their high affinity for the D2 receptor and their slow dissociation from the receptor once bound, but atypicals differ quite dramatically in their propensity to cause prolonged high prolactin levels. Of those atypicals that are associated with prolactin elevation, the main causative factor appears to be a higher peripheral-to-central dopamine receptor potency of either the parent drug or its active metabolite (e.g. risperidone, 9-hydroxy-risperidone and amisulpride). Antipsychotics that easily cross the blood—brain barrier and exhibit fast dissociation from the dopamine receptor once bound do not result in sustained hyperprolactinaemia.

Key Words: prolactin • dopamine • regulation • antipsychotics

Journal of Psychopharmacology, Vol. 22, No. 2 suppl, 12-19 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0269216307087148


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Walters and I. Jones Clinical questions and uncertainty -- prolactin measurement in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder J Psychopharmacol, March 1, 2008; 22(2_suppl): 82 - 89. [Abstract] [PDF]