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Naloxone inhibits and morphine potentiates the adrenal steroidogenic response to ACTHThe administration of morphine to hypophysectomized rats potentiated the steroidogenic response of the adrenal cortex to exogenous adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) in a dose-dependent fashion. Conversely, the opiate antagonist naloxone inhibited the adrenal response to ACTH. Naloxone pretreatment also antagonized the potentiating effect of morphine on ACTH-induced steroidogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. Neither morphine nor naloxone, administered to hypophysectomized rats, had any direct effect on adrenal steroidogenesis. These adrenal actions were stereospecific since neither the (+)-stereoisomer of morphine, nor that or naloxone, had any effect on the adrenal response to ACTH. The administration of human beta-endorphin to hypophysectomized rats had no effect on the adrenal corticosterone concentration nor did it alter the response of the adrenal gland to ACTH. These results indicate that morphine can potentiate the action of ACTH on the adrenal by a direct, stereospecific, dose-dependent mechanism that is prevented by naloxone pretreatment and which may involve competition for ACTH receptors on the corticosterone-secreting cells of the adrenal cortex.
Document ID
20050000953
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Heybach, J. P.
Vernikos, J.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
October 15, 1981
Publication Information
Publication: European journal of pharmacology
Volume: 75
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0014-2999
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Program Biomedical Research
NASA Center ARC
NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology
NASA Discipline Number 20-60

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