The effect of bombesin on basal, alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, haloperidol, morphine, bremazocine and stress-induced prolactin secretion

Abstract

Intravenously administered bombesin lowered basal PRL levels in conscious male rats and prevented the morphine, bremazocine and stress-induced PRL secretion. The same dose of bombesin had no effect on PRL levels in alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine pretreated rats and did not affect haloperidol-stimulated PRL release. These results show that bombesin given intravenously acts as an inhibitor of PRL secretion and suggests that it does not act on the lactotrope itself but rather by an increase of the inhibitory dopaminergic tone.