title: Impaired ACTH and beta-endorphin response to sauna-induced hyperthermia in heroin addicts.
abstract: To evaluate the responses of circulating beta-endorphin, met-enkephalin and ACTH to sauna-induced hyperthermia, 8 male heroin addicts recently admitted to a therapeutic community and 8 age-matched normal subjects were examined. Compared with control subjects, heroin addicts showed 1. A decrease of the basal levels of beta-endorphin; 2. Absence of the normal increase of beta-endorphin and ACTH after sauna; 3. A lower increase in systolic blood pressure. It is concluded that an impairment of the adaptive response to stress may be present in heroin addicts, even after a relatively short drug-free period (14 days).
authors.affiliation: Instituto di Clinica Medica Generale e Terapia Medica, Università di Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Vescovi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pedrazzoni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerra
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pioli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maninetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michelini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Passeri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029002:Steam Bath / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone