Effects of Hypnorm (fentanyl) on ACTH/beta-endorphin levels in plasma, pituitary and brain of 10-day old rats.
Administration of Hypnorm, an anaesthetic containing the known mu-opiate receptor agonist fentanyl, elicited dose- and time-related elevation of plasma ACTH, beta-endorphin and corticosterone levels in 10-day old rat pups. Pretreatment with specific antibodies (raised against CRH, AVP and ACTH resp.) revealed that Hypnorm administration activated the ACTH-corticosterone system in the 10-day old rat and its effect is mediated by CRH and/or AVP. Hypnorm anaesthesia was associated with significant decrease in the ACTH and beta-endorphin levels in the pituitary lobes as well as in beta-endorphin content of the hypothalamus and medulla oblongata. Latter results may indicate that the beta-endorphinergic system in the brain of the 10-day old rat is activated by Hypnorm, an effect most probably elicited by the opiate agonist fentanyl.
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest.
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I
Barna
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Z
Acs
J I
JI
Koenig
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000378:metabolism; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism*
D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D005283:Fentanyl; D003345:Corticosterone