Indomethacin Fails to Alter Basal or Phenothiazine-Induced Prolactin Concentrations in Man

Abstract

In order to evaluate the possible role of prostaglandins in pituitary prolactin (PRL) secretion, PRL was serially measured following perphenazine (Trilafon®) ingestion in 8 men before and after 5 days of indomethacin administration. Since estrogens have been shown to modulate prolactin secretion in man, serum steroids including estrone (E₁ ), estradiol (E₂), progesterone (P) and testosterone (T) were measured before and after indomethacin ingestion. Serum E₁, P and T levels were similar during the pre- and post-indomethacin study periods: 56 ± 4 (1 SEM) vs 48 ± 5 pg/ml, 298 ± 28 vs 315 ± 32 pg/ml, and 8.1± 0.7 vs 8.6 ± 0.7 ng/ml, respectively. Serum E₂ levels were slightly, but significantly, lower following indomethacin treatment at 30 ± 3 vs 37 ± 3 pg/ml (p < .01). Basal serum PRL concentrations were unaffected by indomethacin administration (9 ± 3 pre- vs 8 ± 2 ng/ml post-drug treatment). Integrated perphenazine-induced PRL responses were likewise similar during the 2 study periods: 101 ± 16 ng • hr/ml during the control period and 104 ± 14 ng • hr/ml following indomethacin. Thus, short-term indomethacin treatment had no effect on basal or perphenazine-stimulated PRL secretion in men.

Key words

Prolactin Release - Phenothiazine - Indomethacin - Sex Steroids