Alpha-1- and 2-adrenoceptor subsensitivity in siblings of opioid addicts with personality disorders and depression.
Noradrenergic receptor sensitivity of 16 healthy male siblings of heroin addicts and of 8 age and sex-matched controls was examined by administering a clonidine stimulation test and by measuring the resulting growth hormone (GH) (alpha-2-adrenoceptors) and beta-endorphin (beta-endorphin) (alpha-1-adrenoceptors) responses. Siblings were divided into two groups: A = siblings of heroin addicts with personality disorders and high aggressivity and B = siblings of heroin addicts without mental disorders. The GH and beta-endorphin responses to clonidine were blunted in group A subjects compared with controls and normal in group B.
Centro Studi Farmacotossicodipendenze, SER.T., Parma, Italy.
G
G
Gerra
R
R
Caccavari
A
A
Marcato
A
A
Zaimovic
P
P
Avanzini
C
C
Monica
A
A
Mutti
B
B
Fontanesi
R
R
Delsignore
F
F
Brambilla
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003000:Clonidine; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood
D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D003000:Clonidine; D009638:Norepinephrine