Leu-enkephalin-stimulated growth hormone and prolactin release in the rat: comparison with the effect of morphine |
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Authors: | Daniela Cocchi, Angela Santagostino, Irit Gil-Ad, Sergio Ferri,Eugenio E. Mü ller |
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Affiliation: | a Departments of Pharmacology (1st Chair), School of Medicine, Italy b Biological Sciences, University of Milan, Milano 20129, Italy |
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Abstract: | The effect of Leu5-enkephalin on growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) release was studied in the infant rat and compared to that of morphine. In 10 day-old pups, intracerebroventricular injection of Leu5-enkephalin (50, 75 and 100 μg) resulted in a dose-related increase in plasma GH; morphine was active as GH releaser at the dose of 5 and 10 μg, but not at 2.5 μg. Pretreatment with naloxone (2 mg/kg ip) suppressed the GH-releasing effect of either Leu5-enkephalin (100 μg) or morphine (10 μg). Leu5-enkephalin (75 and 100 μg) induced a rise in plasma PRL which was neither dose-related nor antagonized by naloxone; morphine (5 and 10 μg) was active as PRL releaser and its effect was antagonized by naloxone. These results indicate that: 1) Leu5-enkephalin stimulates both GH and PRL release; 2) the release of GH by Leu5-enkephalin but likely not that of PRL involves specific opiate receptors; 3) morphine releases GH and PRL through specific opiate receptors. |
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