Lunch Induces an Increase in the Plasma Prolactin Concentration, but not Vasoactive Intestinal Peptides or Cholecystokinin.

Ingestion of lunch is known to be associated with acute release of prolactin (PRL). The neuroendocrine mechanism of this release was examined by measuring changes in serum vasoactive intestinal peptides (VIP) and cholecystokinin (CCK) after the noon meal in six normal men. The serum PRL concentration was significantly increased (40% above the level before lunch) from 30min to 1h 45min after beginning to eat. However, the ingestion of lunch had no remarkable effects on the plasma immunoreactive concentration of VIP and CCK. Thus the changes in the plasma concentration of these two gut-brain peptides did not coincided with acute PRL release after ingestion of lunch, suggesting either that these two gut-brain peptides are probably not involved in PRL release after lunch, or that the level of these two gut-brain peptides in the general circulation may not represent that in the hypophyseal portal plasma.