title: Heightened cortisol response to administration of naloxone in Tourette's syndrome.
abstract: The release of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the human has been shown to be under a direct inhibitory control derived from the locus coeruleus (LC). Opioids have been shown to inhibit CRF release. Based on our hypothesis of deranged opioid-noradrenergic activity in Tourette's syndrome (TS), we studied the effect of a naloxone challenge on plasma cortisol levels in 6 TS patients. In all patients naloxone produced a significant rise in cortisol secretion. These results support our hypothesis and suggest that in TS, noradrenergic LC receptors involved in CRF release are supersensitive as a result of chronic excessive endorphinergic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85724.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sandyk
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bamford
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D009270:Naloxone; D006854:Hydrocortisone