The influence of cholinergic, adrenergic, and serotonergic drugs on the afternoon surge of plasma prolactin in ovariectomized, estrogen-treated rats.

The effects of systemic administration of cholinergic, adrenergic, and serotonergic drugs on the afternoon surge of plasma prolactin was investigated using ovariectomized, polyestradiol phosphate (PEP)-injected rats bearing aortic catheters. Basal prolactin levels were elevated and similar after PEP administration for a period of 5 weeks, and an afternoon surge in plasma prolactin persisted for a period of 3 weeks before the magnitude of the surge diminished. The plasma estradiol levels were significantly higher for the 1100 and 1300 h samples than for the 1500 and 1700 h samples. Cornified vaginal epithelia were predominant in the vaginal smears of all animals throughout the 49-day experimental period. The cholinergic agonists arecoline, nicotine, and carbachol significantly inhibited the afternoon surge of prolactin. The muscarinic antagonist atropine resulted in a partial inhibition of the surge while the nicotinic antagonist mecamylamine did not have any inhibitory effect. The alpha-adrenergic blockers phenoxybenzamine and phentolamine and the beta-blocker propranolol inhibited the prolactin surge, with phenoxybenzamine being most effective. The administration of the serotonergic antagonist methysergide resulted in only a partial blockade of the afternoon prolactin surge. The data suggest that both the adrenergic and serotonergic systems may have a positive input in the afternoon surge of plasma prolactin. It appears that the cholinergic system does not play a significant role in the afternoon surge.