title: Cocaine induced secretion of ACTH, beta-endorphin, and corticosterone.
abstract: The effect of intraperitoneal administration of cocaine on the concentrations of hypothalamic corticotropin releasing factor like-immunoreactivity (CRF-LI), plasma ACTH, beta-endorphin, and corticosterone was investigated. Groups of rats were injected with 20 mg/kg cocaine HCI or 0.9% NaCl and then killed 0, 10, 20, 30 or 60 minutes later. Hypothalamic CRF-LI, plasma ACTH, beta-endorphin, and corticosterone concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. A significant increase in plasma ACTH, beta-endorphin, and corticosterone concentrations was observed after cocaine administration. In contrast, cocaine had no significant effect on hypothalamic CRF-LI concentrations. Intravenous administration of 0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg cocaine to rats in which the endogenous release of CRF was blocked by chlorpromazine, morphine, and pentobarbital elicited a significant increase in plasma corticosterone concentrations. These results demonstrate that cocaine induces the release of ACTH, beta-endorphin, and corticosterone and suggest that this response is mediated at the pituitary level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Seton Hall University, S. Orange, NJ 07079.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Moldow
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fischman
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin; D009020:Morphine; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D010424:Pentobarbital; D003042:Cocaine; D002746:Chlorpromazine; D003345:Corticosterone