Noise stress does not modulate effects of smoking/nicotine on β-endorphin, cortisol, ACTH, glucose, and mood

Noise-dependent effects of smoking multiple cigarettes on subjective state and blood concentrations of ACTH, β-endorphin, cortisol, and glucose were assessed in a repeated measures design where noise level (high versus minimal) was crossed with nicotine dose (quasi-ad lib own brand versus 1.0 mg FTC nicotine machine-delivered dose versus 0.05 mg FTC nicotine machine-delivered dose). Cortisol and ACTH were increased by nicotine, but not by noise and there was no noise by dose interaction. In contrast, nicotine did not increase β-endorphin in either noise condition and there was no dose by noise interaction for β-endorphin. However, noise was associated with a modest increase in β-endorphin. The effects of nicotine on blood glucose varied as a function of the number of cigarettes smoked. However, the effects of nicotine on glucose, hormones, and subjective state did not vary as a function of noise stress. Received: 9 October 1995 / Final version: 28 October 1996