Circulating opioid peptides during water immersion in normal man |
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Authors: | P Coruzzi C Ravanetti L Musiari A Biggi P P Vescovi A Novarini |
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Institution: | Istituto di Semeiotica Medica, University of Parma, Italy. |
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Abstract: | 1. This study was designed to evaluate variations in plasma beta-endorphin, methionine-enkephalin, adrenocorticotropic hormone and serum prolactin in healthy volunteers during head-out water immersion. 2. Water immersion induced an increase in methionine-enkephalin plasma levels, which was associated with a significant fall in mean arterial pressure and heart rate. 3. Conversely, a suppression of plasma beta-endorphin, adrenocorticotropic hormone and serum prolactin was detected during water immersion. 4. We suggest that a dopaminergic inhibitory control mechanism may be involved in regulating circulating levels of beta-endorphin, adrenocorticotropic hormone and prolactin in normal subjects undergoing extracellular fluid volume expansion produced by water immersion. |
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