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Horm Metab Res 2005; 37(5): 286-289
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-861472
Original Clinical
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Dopaminergic Influence on Thyrotropin Secretion in Primary Hypothyroidism

S.  Reddy1 , A.  Bhansali1 , R.  Sialy1 , S.  Masoodi1 , P.  Dutta1 , S.  Bhadada1 , R.  Dash1
  • 1 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India
Further Information

Publication History

Received 29 June 2004

Accepted after second revision 15 December 2004

Publication Date:
22 June 2005 (online)

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Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the influence of dopamine on thyrotropin secretion in patients with primary hypothyroidism before and after optimized L-thyroxin replacement therapy. Thyrotropin responses to dopamine infusion (4 µg/kg/min over 3 hours) and IV metoclopramide (10 mg bolus), a dopamine receptor blocker were studied in 25 consecutive patients with primary hypothyroidism before and after achieving stable euthyroid state and compared with 15 normal age-matched controls. Thyrotropin response to both dopamine infusion (decremental) and IV metoclopramide bolus (incremental) was greater in patients with primary hypothyroidism than that in the control subjects. Thyrotropin response was greater in women than in men. The magnitude of decremental thyrotropin response to dopamine infusion and the incremental response to IV metoclopramide bolus significantly correlated with the basal T3 and T4 levels. Thyrotropin response was blunted to dopamine infusion but not to metoclopramide at follow-up after six-month replacement with L-thyroxin, and both the responses were comparable in women and men in patient group. We conclude that modulation of dopaminergic system by dopamine or by dopamine receptor blocker has a greater influence on thyrotropin secretion in patients with primary hypothyroidism than euthyroid normal subjects.

Key words

Dopamine - Metoclopramide - Primary hypothyroidism - Thyrotropin

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Dr. Anil Bhansali

Dept. of Endocrinology · Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research ·

Chandigarh-160012 · India

Phone: + 91 (172) 74 75 85-600, ext. 65 83

Fax: + 91 (172) 74 44 01, 74 50 78 ·

Email: anilbhansali_endocrine@rediffmail.com