title: Hormonal responses to analgesic nitrous oxide in man.
abstract: Analgesic concentrations of nitrous oxide were administered to 6 healthy male subjects, and blood samples were assayed for prolactin, ACTH, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, growth hormone, cortisol and thyroid hormones. Analgesic nitrous oxide (mean concentration = 48.8%) produced statistically significant elevation of prolactin and depression of cortisol whilst not producing statistically significant changes in the other hormones assayed. The increase in prolactin and decrease in cortisol levels are similar to the hormonal changes associated with administration of opioids in man. We have also confirmed the findings of other workers that cortisol levels may not always be correlated with ACTH levels.
authors.affiliation: S.A. Brain Research Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gillman
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Katzeff
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Vermaak
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Susani
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000698:Analgesia; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D006854:Hydrocortisone