title: Functional opioid activity variates according to the different fashion of alcohol abuse.
abstract: Two groups of alcohol addicts (total of 14 subjects), were submitted to Traditional Manual Acupuncture and pituitary hormone plasma levels, including B-Endorphin (B-EP), were measured in basal condition and after 1, 5, 20 and 60 minutes from needle withdrawal. Group A patients had a polarity towards negative affective tone presenting signs of dysphoria while group B was composed of the so-called "social drinkers". No difference existed in basal hormonal values, except slightly elevated plasma B-EP levels in group A. No significant responses to TMA were recorded in plasma ACTH, Cortisol, Prolactin or GH levels in groups A and B. Social drinkers showed an increase of B-EP plasma levels in response to TMA (128 +/- 62.1%, mean +/- SD) which on the contrary was absent in dysphoric alcoholics (2.8 +/- 38.6%, p less than 0.01). The same was true for B-Lipotropin plasma levels. These preliminary results suggest that different fashions of alcohol abuse may be associated with different reactivity of the endogenous opioid system.
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000502:physiology*; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D008083:beta-Lipotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D008083:beta-Lipotropin; D006854:Hydrocortisone