title: Stress response dysregulation and stress-induced analgesia in nicotine dependent men and women.
abstract: Alterations in the stress response and endogenous pain regulation mechanisms may contribute directly and indirectly to maintenance of nicotine dependence and relapse. We examined the extent to which nicotine dependence alters endogenous pain regulatory systems, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis, cardiovascular activity, and stress-induced analgesia. Smokers and nonsmokers attended a laboratory session that included assessment of hormonal and cardiovascular responses to stress. Smokers smoked at their regular rate prior to the session. The hand cold pressor and heat thermal pain tests were completed twice, once after acute stress (public speaking and math tasks) and the other after rest. While smokers and nonsmokers exhibited significant hormonal and cardiovascular responses to stress, smokers exhibited blunted stress responses relative to nonsmokers. They also exhibited diminished stress-induced analgesia. Results demonstrate altered stress response and diminished stress-induced analgesia among chronic smokers, and suggest that these dysregulated physiological responding may contribute to altered endogenous pain regulation.
authors.affiliation: Duluth Medical Research Institute, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN 55812, USA. malabsi@umn.edu
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: al'Absi
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grabowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000698:Analgesia; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine; D006854:Hydrocortisone