Abstract
The effect of therapeutic doses of morphine and nalorphine on the plasma hydrocortisone levels of normal human subjects in different test situations is reported. Interpreting changes in plasma hydrocortisone concentration in terms of ACTH release, we conclude that the primary effect of therapeutic doses of morphine on early morning ACTH release in sedated, normal subjects is a suppressant one. In nonsedated subjects, morphine is capable of depressing midday ACTH release as well as ACTH release induced by a standardized stress (vasopressin).
The adrenals were shown to be at least normally responsive to injected ACTH after morphine administration.
The pertinence of these findings to the problem of mechanism of ACTH release is discussed.
Footnotes
- Received October 6, 1958.
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