Serum prolactin levels were assayed in rats treated with specific inhibitors of monoamine oxidase (MAO) A or B. Monoamine oxidase A was inhibited by MD780515, clorgyline and Lilly 51641, and MAO B by pargyline and deprenyl (all at 10 mg/kg, p.o.). Serum prolactin levels were significantly reduced 1 hour after treatment with MAO A inhibitors, but were unaltered by MAO B inhibitors. The time-course of the reduction in serum prolactin did not correspond to that of MAO A inhibition. When rats were treated with clorgyline, serum prolactin returned to control values by 6 hr after treatment, whereas MAO A was inhibited by 92–94% over the whole period. At a time when MAO A inhibitors produced no change in serum prolactin (5 hr after treatment) they abolished the rise in serum prolactin induced by reserpine (5 mg/kg, i.p.), indicating a continuing absence of MAO A activity in the neurones regulating prolactin release. Monoamine oxidase B inhibitors did not alter the effect of reserpine on serum prolactin. Possible reasons for the rapid recovery of serum prolactin levels are discussed.
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