Pentavalent technetium-99m-dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy in renal osteodystrophy

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether oxytocin modifies the stimulatory effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on prolactin secretion in healthy women. DESIGN: Controlled clinical study. SETTING: Healthy women in an academic research environment. PATIENT(S): Seven healthy women (aged 24-32 years) were tested on the 22nd day of two consecutive normal menstrual cycles. INTERVENTION(S): Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (4 pmol x kg(-1) x min(-1) in 50 mL of normal saline infused i.v. for 60 minutes) was administered in either the presence or absence of concurrent treatment with oxytocin (2 IU injected plus 0.07 IU/min infused for 60 minutes). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum prolactin levels. RESULT(S): The administration of VIP induced a significant increase in serum prolactin levels, with a mean peak response 1.6 times higher than baseline at 45 minutes after injection. In the presence of oxytocin, the prolactin response to VIP was significantly higher, with a mean peak response 2 times higher than baseline. CONCLUSION(S): These data suggest that in healthy women, oxytocin facilitates the regulation of the stimulating effect of VIP on prolactin secretion.