in these 24-week studies comprising a total of 157 hyperprolactinemic patients, a once daily administration of pergolide was shown to be as safe and effective as the two to four times daily ingestion of bromocriptine. Longer-acting dopamine agonists like pergolide that can be taken once daily, are likely to increase the ease to adherence to the therapeutic regimen. This might result in a higher compliance to medical treatment of hyperprolactinemia.

A comparison between human and porcine insulins with regard to their adsorption to administration sets was performed. A 125I-mono(A14)-iodinated insulin was used to follow the adsorption phenomenon over time and the adsorption was quantified with radioimmunoassays of unlabelled insulin. The obtained data were similar for both methods. No relevant difference in adsorption was found between human and porcine insulin. Both insulins showed a significantly more pronounced initial drop in delivered insulin when polyethylene tubing was used. After 3 h a steady state was reached, resulting in the administration of a more predictable dose. Particularly in the initial phase an important reduction in the amount of both insulins actually delivered to the patient was observed when compared to the expected amount as calculated from the concentration present in the container and the infusion rate. Therefore, the mainstay in treatment of a patient with ketoacidosis remains frequent serum glucose measurement and making appropriate infusion rate adjustments on that basis.

1. The ocular hypotensive effect of a single oral dose of 25 micrograms pergolide, a dopamine 2‐receptor agonist, was studied in 12 normal human volunteers, using a non‐invasive method. 2. An oral dose of timolol 20 mg was used as a positive control. 3. The effects of both drugs on pupil diameter were also studied, using a photographic method. 4. Considering the first 6 h post‐dosing measurements, using multiple linear regression analysis comparing drug with placebo and including the baseline values as continuous independent variables, both pergolide and timolol had a significant ocular hypotensive effect in both eyes (P less than 0.0001) with no significant effects on pupil diameter. 5. Further topical application studies in normal and glaucomatous eyes are needed to evaluate the usefulness of pergolide in the treatment of glaucoma.

1. The effect of pre-dosing with 15 mg domperidone, a relatively selective dopamine 2-receptor antagonist, on the ocular hypotensive action of a single oral dose of 25 micrograms pergolide, a dopamine 2-receptor agonist, was studied in 9 normal human volunteers, using a non-invasive method. 2. Compared with domperidone followed after 1 h by placebo, placebo followed after 1 h by pergolide had an ocular hypotensive effect in both eyes. Domperidone followed after 1 h by pergolide had no effect on intraocular pressure in both eyes. 3. The results of this study showed that domperidone inhibited the ocular hypotensive action of pergolide, suggesting that pergolide reduces intraocular pressure by the stimulation of the peripheral dopamine 2-receptors.

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