title: Adrenocorticotropin and cortisol responses to ovine corticotropin-releasing factor in alcohol dependence disorder. Preliminary report.
abstract: A 100-micrograms bolus of synthetic ovine corticotropin-releasing factor was administered intravenously to 10 nondepressed inpatients suffering from an alcohol dependence disorder. The test was performed during withdrawal and after 4 weeks of abstinence. During withdrawal, the plasma cortisol responses of alcoholic patients and 7 control subjects were similar, except for an earlier decrease of cortisol in the former group. However, after 4 weeks of abstinence, the cortisol response was significantly lower in alcoholic patients than in controls. These abnormalities observed during discontinuance of alcohol consumption may reflect adaptive mechanisms of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity which may be previously altered by chronic alcohol intoxication.
authors.affiliation: Psychopathology and Alcohology Unit, University Hospital of Lille, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bailly
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dewailly
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beuscart
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Couplet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dumont
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Racadot
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fossati
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Parquet
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone