CHANGES IN BRAIN CATECHOLAMINE METABOLISM DURING BROMOCRIPTINE TREATMENT IN POLYCYSTIC-OVARY-SYNDROME

The role of dopaminomimetic drugs on the brain catecholamine metabolis m in the neuroendocrine regulation of the polycystic ovary syndrome (P CO) was investigated. We measured, besides peptide hormones and sex st eroids, urinary dopamine (DA), norepinephrine, epinephrine, vanillylma ndelic acid, homovanillic acid (HVA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid ( DOPAC) and total 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) levels by high -performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector in 10 women with PCO before and during long-term bromocriptine (BRC) admini stration. HVA and DOPAC concentrations were significantly lower (p < 0 .00 1) in PCO patients compared with 12 control subjects in the early follicular phase, whereas MHPG concentrations were significantly highe r (p < 0.01) in PCO patients. During BRC administration, HVA, DOPAC an d MHPG levels increased significantly (p < 0.01 for HVA and DOPAC, and p < 0.05 for MHPG), prolactin levels dropped markedly (p < 0.01), whe reas luteinizing hormone levels did not change (p = NS). These data sh ow (1) a reduced DA activity in PCO which may be normalizable under BR C treatment, but also (2) no major effects of DA metabolism on the ina ppropriate gonadotropin secretion of the syndrome.