Randomised trial, 1988
Does dopamine control how a hormone changes during sleep in the menstrual cycle?
No. A dopamine-blocking drug did not prevent the hormone changes that normally happen during sleep in the early menstrual cycle, so dopamine does not appear to be responsible for this effect.
What they did
11 women in the early follicular phase (days 3 and 4) were studied twice, about 2 weeks apart. Each time they received either saline or metoclopramide (a dopamine-blocking drug) by continuous infusion for 24 hours. Blood samples measuring LH hormone were taken every 15 minutes for 48 hours. Sleep was confirmed by EEG.
What they found
During saline infusion, sleep was associated with decreases in how often LH pulses occurred (p less than 0.05) and in average LH levels (p less than 0.001), with an increase in pulse amplitude (p less than 0.01). When metoclopramide was given, these sleep-associated changes were not prevented.
What it means for you
Dopamine does not appear to control how LH pulses change during sleep in the early menstrual cycle. This is basic science research about how hormones work, not a treatment for a condition. The main limitation is the very small sample size of 11 women.
11
women studied
3-4
cycle day studied
15
minutes between blood samples
About the study
- Original title
- Effects of dopaminergic blockade on the sleep-associated changes of luteinizing hormone pulsatility in early follicular phase women
- Authors
- Rossmanith WG, Mortola JF, Yen SS
- Journal
- Neuroendocrinology
- Year
- 1988
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 11
- What was tested
- Metoclopramide (dopamine antagonist) versus saline
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1159/000125074