Effects of intravenous cocaine on plasma cortisol and prolactin in human cocaine abusers

Michael H. Baumann; Teri M. Gendron; Karen M. Becketts; Jack E. Henningfield; David A. Gorelick; Richard B. Rothman

doi:10.1016/0006-3223(95)00083-6

Effects of intravenous cocaine on plasma cortisol and prolactin in human cocaine abusers

Michael H. Baumann, Teri M. Gendron, Karen M. Becketts, Jack E. Henningfield, David A. Gorelick, Richard B. Rothman

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

79 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to examine the cortisol and prolactin responses to acute cocaine administration in human cocaine users. Each subject served as his own control during intravenous saline placebo and cocaine (40 mg) infusion sessions. Cocaine significantly elevated plasma cortisol but did not affect prolactin. The rise in cortisol coincided with an increase in heart rate and blood pressure after cocaine. In agreement with studies in animals, our data suggest that cocaine activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in humans. However, based on the well-known importance of dopamine as a prolactin-inhibiting factor, the failure of cocaine to suppress prolactin in the present study raises questions concerning the role of dopamine in the mechanism of acute cocaine action in humans.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	751-755
Number of pages	5
Journal	Biological Psychiatry
Volume	38
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(95)00083-6
State	Published - Dec 1 1995
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Cocaine
cortisol
human
prolactin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biological Psychiatry

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10.1016/0006-3223(95)00083-6

Cite this

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title = "Effects of intravenous cocaine on plasma cortisol and prolactin in human cocaine abusers",

abstract = "The aim of the present work was to examine the cortisol and prolactin responses to acute cocaine administration in human cocaine users. Each subject served as his own control during intravenous saline placebo and cocaine (40 mg) infusion sessions. Cocaine significantly elevated plasma cortisol but did not affect prolactin. The rise in cortisol coincided with an increase in heart rate and blood pressure after cocaine. In agreement with studies in animals, our data suggest that cocaine activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in humans. However, based on the well-known importance of dopamine as a prolactin-inhibiting factor, the failure of cocaine to suppress prolactin in the present study raises questions concerning the role of dopamine in the mechanism of acute cocaine action in humans.",

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T1 - Effects of intravenous cocaine on plasma cortisol and prolactin in human cocaine abusers

AU - Baumann, Michael H.

AU - Gendron, Teri M.

AU - Becketts, Karen M.

AU - Henningfield, Jack E.

AU - Gorelick, David A.

AU - Rothman, Richard B.

PY - 1995/12/1

Y1 - 1995/12/1

N2 - The aim of the present work was to examine the cortisol and prolactin responses to acute cocaine administration in human cocaine users. Each subject served as his own control during intravenous saline placebo and cocaine (40 mg) infusion sessions. Cocaine significantly elevated plasma cortisol but did not affect prolactin. The rise in cortisol coincided with an increase in heart rate and blood pressure after cocaine. In agreement with studies in animals, our data suggest that cocaine activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in humans. However, based on the well-known importance of dopamine as a prolactin-inhibiting factor, the failure of cocaine to suppress prolactin in the present study raises questions concerning the role of dopamine in the mechanism of acute cocaine action in humans.

AB - The aim of the present work was to examine the cortisol and prolactin responses to acute cocaine administration in human cocaine users. Each subject served as his own control during intravenous saline placebo and cocaine (40 mg) infusion sessions. Cocaine significantly elevated plasma cortisol but did not affect prolactin. The rise in cortisol coincided with an increase in heart rate and blood pressure after cocaine. In agreement with studies in animals, our data suggest that cocaine activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in humans. However, based on the well-known importance of dopamine as a prolactin-inhibiting factor, the failure of cocaine to suppress prolactin in the present study raises questions concerning the role of dopamine in the mechanism of acute cocaine action in humans.

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KW - cortisol

KW - human

KW - prolactin

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Effects of intravenous cocaine on plasma cortisol and prolactin in human cocaine abusers

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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