A Central Serotonin Receptor Agonist, 8‐Hydroxy‐2‐(di‐n‐propylamino)tetralin, has Different Effects on Prolactin Secretion in Male and Female Rats

Abstract

Male and female rats were compared with respect to alterations in prolactin secretion induced by the serotonin receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT). The dose-response curves after 8-OH-DPAT were irregular and had different shapes in the two sexes. In males, 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg enhanced serum prolactin concentrations to about 200% of control values, whereas higher doses (1 and 3 mg/kg) had no effect on prolactin release. In females, in contrast, 0.1 mg/kg of 8-OH-DPAT tended to decrease serum levels of prolactin, while 0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg elevated them in a dose dependent manner to maximally 700% of control values. The serotonergic agonist 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT) (5 mg/kg), too, caused increased prolactin release in both sexes, and, again, females responded more forcefully. In males, but not in females, pretreatment with 8-OH-DPAT (1 mg/kg) reduced the 5-MeODMT-induced elevation of serum prolactin levels. The mechanism underlying the sexually differentiated effects of 8-OH-DPAT on prolactin secretion is discussed.