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Effects of a Met-Enkephalin Analogue and Naloxone Infusion on Anterior Pituitary Hormone Secretion in Acromegaly

DOI

10

Citations

0

References

1981

Year

Giuseppe Delitala, Massimo Giusti, LAURA BORSI, L Devilla, Giuseppina Mazzochi, G Lotti, Giulio Giordano
Hormone Research

Abstract

The effect of a long-acting analogue of Met-enkephalin (Damme) and naloxone on anterior pituitary hormone secretion has been investigated in 14 acromegalic patients. Damme produced a progressive fall in circulating LH and cortisol and stimulated prolactin release in normoprolactinaemic patients. Naloxone infusion significantly stimulated gonadotrophin and cortisol secretion without modifying basal prolactin release both in normo-and hyperprolactinamic patients. GH levels remained unchanged during naloxone and Damme infusion. The data suggest that endogenous opiate receptors do not play a major role in modulating GH hypersecretion in acromegaly.