Dissection of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Pathology in 1-Month-Abstinent Alcohol-Dependent Men Part 1: Adrenocortical and Pituitary Glucocorticoid Responsiveness

摘要

BackgroundLong-term ingestion of alcohol produces marked alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. The authors engaged in a series of studies to determine the distinct role of the hypothalamus and the pituitary and adrenal glands in the disturbances observed in abstinent alcohol-dependent subjects. In this first of a two-part study, the authors report on (1) the basal secretory profile of corticotropin and cortisol from 2000 to 0800 hrs, (2) adrenocortical sensitivity in both the presence and absence of endogenous pituitary activation, and (3) pituitary glucocorticoid sensitivity to dexamethasone.