title: Effect of naltrexone treatment on the treadmill exercise-induced hormone release in amenorrheic women.
abstract: The effect of an acute physical stress on hormone secretions before and after a 10-day naltrexone treatment in untrained healthy and amenorrheic women was investigated. Plasma levels of pituitary (LH, FSH, prolactin, GH, ACTH, beta-endorphin) and adrenal (cortisol, androstenedione, testosterone) hormones were measured at rest and in response to 60 min of physical exercise. The test was done both before and after a 10-day naltrexone (50 mg/day) treatment. Graded levels of treadmill exercise (50, 70 and 90% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2) every 20 min) was used as physical stressor. While mean +/- SE plasma LH levels in control women were higher than in amenorrheic patients and increased following the naltrexone treatment (p < 0.01), no significant differences of basal plasma hormonal levels were observed between amenorrheic and eumenorrheic women, both before and after naltrexone treatment. Physical exercise at 90% VO2 induced a significant increase in plasma GH, ACTH, beta-endorphin, cortisol, androstenedione and testosterone levels in controls before naltrexone treatment (p < 0.01). The mean increase in plasma androstenedione and testosterone levels in control women was significantly higher after naltrexone treatment (p < 0.01). In amenorrheic patients before naltrexone, physical exercise induced an increase in plasma prolactin and GH levels, but not in plasma ACTH, beta-endorphin, cortisol, testosterone and androstenedione. After naltrexone treatment, the exercise induced a significant plasma ACTH, beta-endorphin and cortisol levels, while the increase of plasma prolactin levels was significantly higher than before treatment (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Istituto Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica, University of Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Botticelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bacchi Modena
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bresciani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aguzzoli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Florio
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Nappi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Genazzani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013256:Steroids / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D013256:Steroids; D009271:Naltrexone