Lack of Modulation of the Adrenocortical Response to ACTH by an Opioid Peptide

Summary

Eight normal male subjects received 1 mg dexamethasone at 23.00 h and 0.5 mg on wakening followed by a physiological intravenous dose of synthetic ACTH_1-24250 ng, with and without the administration of a stable met-enkephalin analogue (guanyl-DAMME, 100 μg) 10 minutes prior to the ACTH. The opioid analogue caused no change in the peak, incremental, or incremental area under the curve responses of plasma cortisol to the ACTH. This study does not support a role for opioid peptides in the acute modulation of the adreno-cortical response to ACTH.

Opioid - Adrenal - Cortisol - ACTH