Features of dopaminergic system function in menopausal females with arterial hypertension

Aim. Assessment of dopaminergic activity by changes in urine excretion of d opamine, arterial hypertension, blood prolactine, 24-h diuresis and natriur esis in response to a single (2.5 mg) and 7-day (daily dose 5 mg) administr ation of parlodel in patients with essential hypertension (EH) in menopausa l and reproductive age having different serum levels of estrogens. Materials and methods. The indices of 52 hypertensive menopausal women and of 18 women at reproductive age of whom 8 had hypothalamic syndrome were fo llowed up. Results. A single dose parlodel (bromoecriptine) in the close 2.5 mg 2 hour s after its administration caused a significant fall in arterial pressure, rise in 24-h diuresis in hypertensive menopausal women (p<0.01). Parlodel g iven in a daily dose 5 mg for 7 days in menopausal hypertensive women lower ed a significant fall in arterial pressure, blood concentrations of aldoste ron, prolactin, aroused dopamine and urinary sodium excretion (p<0.01). Sim ilar were the changes in hypertensive women at reproductive age with hypoth alamic syndrome (n = 8). In such women free of hypothalamic impairment the changes did not occur (n=10). A significant positive correlation was found between serum levels of prolactine and estradiol in all the hypertensive wo men in menopause. Conclusion. Deficiency of dopaminergic activity in menopause is induced by hypoestrogenemia correlating with serum levels of prolactin. This deficienc y was identified in hypertensive menopausal women by the results of acute a nd prolonged tests with dopamine mimetic - parlodel.