title: Effects of ethanol on plasma corticosterone and rectal temperature modification by U50488H and WIN 44441-3.
abstract: Endogenous opiates are believed to subserve various behaviors and physiological functions. We have examined the effect of U50488H (0-12 mg/kg), a kappa agonist, and WIN 44441-3 (0-4.0 mg/kg), a kappa antagonist, on ethanol (ET)-induced changes in rectal temperature and in plasma corticosterone (CS) levels in rats. The 12 mg/kg dose of U50488H produced marked hypothermia, the other doses either produced hyperthermia comparable to that seen in control animals, or had no effect. The 0.5 mg/kg of WIN44441-3 had a small hypothermic effect while the 4.0 mg/kg produced hyperthermia. U50488H potentiated and the low dose of WIN 44441-3 reversed the hypothermic effect of ethanol. By contrast, neither WIN 44441-3 nor U50488H pretreatments affected the ethanol-induced elevation in plasma CS. These results indicate that kappa agonists increase plasma CS concentration and affect thermoregulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, our data indicate a possible role of endogenous kappa opioids in the hypothermic effect of ethanol, but not in the elevation of plasma CS.
authors.affiliation: Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08855-0969.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pohorecky
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D000818:Animals; D001392:Azocines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000502:physiology; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001392:Azocines; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D000431:Ethanol; D019900:3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cyclohexyl)-benzeneacetamide, (trans)-Isomer; D003345:Corticosterone; C035969:quadazocine