Dopaminergic Control of Adenohypophysial Weight and Serum Ceruloplasmin Level in Rats

Abstract

Twice a week male rats were given injections of 1 mg estradiol benzoate as an aqueous microcrystalline suspension; they were also given 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4 mg pimozide (a dopamine receptor blocker) daily in their food. Only the maximum pimozide dose potentiated the effect of estradiol on adenohypophysial weight and on the binding capacity of adenohypophysial proteins for thyroxine in vitro. The estrogen-induced increase in the serum ceruloplasmin level, however, was potentiated significantly by all 3 pimozide doses.