CATECHOLAMINES, THE HYPOTHALAMUS AND NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY - APPLICATIONS OF ELECTROCHEMICAL METHODS

Hormone secretion from the anterior pituitary gland is regulated by the hypothalamus. This regulation is accomplished by secretion of neurally-produced hypophysiotropic hormones into the vascular portal system connecting the hypothalamus with the anterior pituitary, thus functionally linking the nervous and endocrine systems. The three hypophysiotropic hormones isolated and synthesized to date have proven to be small peptides. They are thyroid stimulating hormone-releasing hormone (TRH), luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) and growth hormone release-inhibiting hormone (somatostatin). Schally and Guillemin shared the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for their work in elucidating the nature of these substances. This article describes electrochemical methods which have been used to establish dopamine as the fourth hypophysiotropic hormone, one which is involved in the inhibition of prolactin secretion from the anterior pituitary gland. These methods were originally developed in the laboratory of Ralph Adams at the University of Kansas1 and have been adapted and successfully applied in our laboratory to some problems confronting neuroendocrinology. © 1979.