Gonadotropin secretion was investigated in 10 healthy volunteers (5 men and 5 women in the early follicular phase of cycle) by the following procedures: i) infusion of saline over 4 1/2 h period; ii) infusion of dopamine (DA) 4 microgram/kg bw/min over 4 h period; iii) oral administration of L-dopa (D) 100 mg plus carbidopa (C) 35 mg after 24 h pretreatment with C 50 mg every 6 h. This last pharmacological approach selectively enhances the central dopaminergic tonus. Blood samples were withdrawn every 15 min over 4 1/2 h period. No ultradian periodicity in LH and FSH secretion was observed. No significant modification in serum FSH levels was induced by any treatment at any time, while a significant decrease in serum LH concentration was observed from 45 to 240 min during DA infusion (-46.8%; p less than 0.005) and from 60 to 240 min after D + C administration -41.5%; p less than 0.05). These data demonstrate that, in humans, acute dopaminergic stimuli have an inhibitory action on LH release and suggest that this inhibition is exerted at the central level.