Possible Interaction: Ethanol and Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

“ Ethanol induced rapid changes in brain electrical activity and plasma ACTH levels that were significantly correlated with subjective perception of changes in mood.”

“Although ethanol has been considered to be an anxiolytic agent, consumption of ethanol has also been shown to increase plasma adrenocorticotropin and glucocorticoids.”

“Chronic consumption of alcohol , even relatively low concentrations, appears to affect the neural sites in the CNS controlling the circadian rhythm of ACTH release.”

“In adult rats, acute EtOH treatment increases plasma ACTH and corticosteroids levels primarily by stimulating the release of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and possibly vasopressin (VP) from nerve terminals in the median eminence.”

“Experimental data indicates that pituitary peptides such as corticotropin and vasopressin, in addition to the endorphins, influence the development of physical dependence on either morphine or ethanol.”

“The behavioural effects of ACTH were counteracted by chronic administration of chlordiazepoxide (5 mg kg−1 for 5 days) and by acute administration of ethanol (0·4 g kg−1).”

“Linear regression analysis indicated that ethanol intake was negatively correlated with the plasma levels of ACTH over time.”

“The negative correlation between ethanol intake and ACTH levels supports the notion that naltrexone's effect of increasing HPA axis activity may be related to its ability to suppress ethanol consumption.”

“ Ethanol inhibited ACTH and cortisol secretion.”

“The fact that alcohol delivered by inhalation only caused a relatively brief (</=8 days) decrease in the ability of a second intragastric alcohol challenge to release ACTH suggests that the mode of alcohol delivery influences its long-term consequences.”

“This was not due to a lack of neuroendocrine response because alcohol vapors significantly increased plasma ACTH levels and up-regulated paraventricular nucleus neuronal activity regardless of the age at which it was initially administered.”

“Rats of group C that had been exposed to alcohol for 6 days also showed decreased ACTH release when injected with alcohol 7 days later while responding normally to shocks.”