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Effect of naloxone administration upon responses of adrenal hormones to withdrawal from ethanol

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Abstract

Rats maintained on an ethanol-liquid diet developed physical dependence after 16 days. Activation of adrenocortical function and overactivity of the sympathoadrenal system were observed during withdrawal from ethanol. The opiate antagonist naloxone prevented the adrenomedullary response, and attenuated, though not significantly, the increases in serum corticosterone induced by ethanol deprivation. These findings suggest that endogenous opioid pathways may be involved in the ethanol-withdrawal syndrome.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigationes Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Endocrinología y Metabolismo “G. Marañón”, Madrid, Spain

    Carmen Guaza & Sara Borrell

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  1. Carmen Guaza
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  2. Sara Borrell
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Supported by a C.S.I.C. Postdoctoral Fellowship

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Guaza, C., Borrell, S. Effect of naloxone administration upon responses of adrenal hormones to withdrawal from ethanol. Psychopharmacology 82, 181–184 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427769

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427769

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