Experimental Studies on Alcohol and Opioids Influence on Prolactin Secretion
Issue: 4/2011
Author: G. Bocheva and N. Boyadjieva
Abstract:
The use of some opioids may affect prolactin levels. The goal of the present study is to investigate the effect of opioid agonist DAMGO [(D-Ala2, NMe-Phe4, Glyol5)-enkephalin], alone or in combination with alcohol, on prolactin secretion. The results show that DAMGO increases the plasma levels of prolactin, and the blocker of opioid receptors – naltrexone antagonizes the effects of DAMGO on protein levels. In addition, alcohol stimulates the prolatin secretion, and naltrexone partially decreases its effect on prolactin. Our results lead to the conclusion that the opioid receptors play a role in the regulation of prolactin secretion and the effect of alcohol on prolactin levels.
