ACUTE DOPAMINERGIC BLOCKADE BY SULPIRIDE STIMULATES β-ENDORPHIN SECRETION IN PREGNANT WOMEN |
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| Authors: | A. B. ABOU SAMRA M. PUGEAT H. DECHAUD L. NACHURY J. TOURNIAIRE |
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| Affiliation: | Laboratoire de la Clinique Endocrinologique, Hôpital de l'Antiquaille, and INSERM U 34, Hôpital Debrousse, 69322 Lyon Cedex 05, France and Laboratoire Central de Biochimie, Hôpital de l'Antiquaille, 69321 Lyon Cedex 05, France |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
The pars intermedia of the pituitary gland is well developed in most animal species but rudimentary in adult human subjects. Unlike the anterior pituitary, the intermediate lobe metabolizes proopiomelanocorticotrophin (POMC) mainly to beta-endorphin and to alpha-melanotrophin (alpha-MSH). This activity of the pars intermedia is under an inhibitory dopaminergic control. Biochemical and immunohistochemical evidence suggests the hyperplasia of the intermediate lobe during human pregnancy. The present study demonstrates that an acute dopaminergic blockade by sulpiride dramatically increases plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin in pregnant women but not in non-pregnant women providing functional evidence for the intermediate lobe hypothesis. |
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