RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 EFFECT OF MORPHINE AND NALORPHINE ON PLASMA HYDROCORTISONE LEVELS IN MAN
JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 241
OP 247
VO 125
IS 3
A1 McDonald, Roger K.
A1 Evans, Franklin T.
A1 Weise, Virginia K.
A1 Patrick, Raymond W.
YR 1959
UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/125/3/241.abstract
AB 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.