THE EFFECTS OF PROLONGED BROMOCRIPTINE ADMINISTRATION ON PRL SECRETION GH AND GLYCAEMIC CONTROL IN STABLE INSULIN‐DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS

SUMMARY Plasma glucose, PRL and GH concentrations were measured at hourly intervals over a 24-h period before and after oral bromocriptine administration in a dosage of 7±5 mg/day for 6 weeks in nine stable insulin-dependent diabetic men. The pattern of PRL secretion was noted to be normal in stable diabetes (with a mean concentration of 205 mu/l ± 23 SEM) and was effectively suppressed by bromocriptine (to a mean concentration of 51 mu/l ± 2 SEM). This suppression of PRL secretion caused no major alteration in glycaemic control, mean plasma glucose for the group was 10±6 mmol/l ± 3± 4 SD before and 9±6 mmol/l ± 3·1 SD after bromocriptine administration. Bromocriptine produced no change in plasma glucose or GH profiles. It is concluded that PRL secretion is not a major influence on carbohydrate metabolism in stable diabetics.