Alpha-2-adrenoceptor sensitivity in heroin addicts with and without previous attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity and conduct disorder.
Growth hormone (GH) and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) responses to clonidine stimulation were examined in 18 male heroin addicts, 9 with and 9 without previous histories of attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADD-H) and conduct disorder (CD). Ten psychophysically healthy volunteers were used as controls. ADD-H/CD addicts had blunted GH and beta-EP responses as compared to controls while those of non-ADD-H/CD addicts were normal. This suggests that postsynaptic adrenoceptor sensitivity is decreased and, possibly, that presynaptic noradrenaline secretion is increased in ADD-H/CD patients with heroin addiction.
Gerra
G
G
Drug Addiction Service, Health Unit (USL n4), Parma, Italy.
Caccavari
R
R
Fontanesi
B
B
Delsignore
R
R
Fertonani-Affini
G
G
Marcato
A
A
Maestri
D
D
Avanzini
P
P
Perna
G
G
Brambilla
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003000:Clonidine; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood
D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D003000:Clonidine; D009638:Norepinephrine