title: Do smoking intensity-related differences in vigilance indicate altered glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity?
abstract: The relationship of critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF) and a pharmacologically induced cortisol suppression by means of dexamethasone (DEX) and metyrapone (MET) was investigated during nicotine deprivation in a between-subjects design in 60 male smokers divided into light, medium and heavy smokers. DEX reduced vigilance in medium smokers and improved it in heavy smokers compared to placebo, whereas MET was more detrimental in heavy smokers. The hypothesis was put forward that the intensity of nicotine consumption is related to differences in glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hennig
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Netter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008797:Metyrapone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000187:drug effects*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D008797:Metyrapone