[Prolactin, depression and antidepressive agents. Review of the literature]

Abstract

Different neurotransmitters (Dopamine, serotonin, GABA...) and hormones (TRH, oestrogenes...) are involved in the central regulation of prolactin synthesis and release. Under physiological conditions, prolactin levels are related to correlate with age, sex, sexual maturational changes (puberty, menopause...), menstrual cycling... In this review of literature there exists a great amount of data concerned with changes in prolactin in affective disorders illustrating the validity of the biochemical and neuroendocrinological approach specially in depression. Different research paradigms are presently reviewed: measurement of plasma levels of prolactin under basal conditions, in a circadian pattern or after pharmacological challenge with TRH and/or morphine (stimulation), L-dopa and/or dexamethasone (inhibition) and its response to antidepressant drugs. The authors emphasize the contradictory results reported in the literature and suggest the need for extreme caution before considering the validity of prolactin as a biochemical test in depression.