Effects of Naloxone upon Prolactin and Cortisol in Normal Women

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Abstract
To assess whether endogenous opioids are involved in the regulation of prolactin and ACTH, the effects of i.v. naloxone administration (10 mg) to 10 normal women were examined. In 6 of these subjects, a saline control study (randomized design) was also performed. There was no change in serum prolactin following naloxone or saline. Naloxone resulted in an increment in serum cortisol from a mean of 8.7 .mu.g/dl prior to treatment to a peak of 12.7 .mu.g/dl at 60 min. Values between 45 and 75 min were significantly higher than those following saline injection. The increment of cortisol following naloxone administration suggests the presence of an inhibitory opioid influence upon basal ACTH secretion in man.