Endocrine effects of ethanol infusion in normal subjects: Modification by naloxone

The intravenous infusion of ethanol (1 mg/kg over 30 min) in four normal females produced no clear change in circulating levels of plasma Cortisol, corticotrophin, prolactin and growth hormone. The simultaneous infusion of naloxone (2 mg/hr over 90 min) and ethanol caused a rise in Cortisol, corticotrophin and prolactin whereas levels of growth hormone remained low. It is argued that some of the endocrine effects of ethanol may be mediated via central opiate receptors.