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Effects of Naloxone on Insulin-Induced Release of Pituitary Hormones

Department of Medicine, Service of Endocrinology, University of Montreal and Notre-Dame Hospital Montreal, Canada

Address requests for reprints to: Dr. Maurice Somma, Chief, Endo-crinology Service, Notre-Dame Hospital, 1560 Sherbrooke Street E., Montreal, P.Q.H2L 4K8 Canada.

ABSTRACT. To evaluate the role of endogenous opiates on the regulation of the pituitary hormonal stress response, we have studied in six normal subjects the insulin-induced secretion of PRL, GH, and ACTH with and without naloxone, a specific opiate antagonist. During hypoglycemia, naloxone infusion re-duced plasma PRL levels at 90 min, lowered the overall GH response, and enhanced that of ACTH.

These observations suggest that endogenous opiates have a modulatory role in the stress-induced secretion of pituitary hormones.

Received October 27, 1980.