PROLACTIN RESPONSE TO FENFLURAMINE IS INDEPENDENT OF SEROTONIN RELEASE

To assess the role of serotonin release in the prolactin response to f enfluramine, rats were treated with fenfluramine alone or in combinati on with a dose of fluoxetine known to block fenfluramine-induced serot onin release. Fluoxetine pretreatment did not prevent fenfluramine-ind uced increases in prolactin. These findings indicate that fenfluramine -induced increases in prolactin are independent of serotonin release, and possibly involve direct post-synaptic actions of fenfluramine or o ne of its metabolites (norfenfluramine).