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Abstract
Endogenous opioid systems may be altered as a consequence of addiction, but evidence
to support this idea is meager so far. We obtained 136 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples
from 72 opioid addicts during four distinct states: methadone maintenance, detoxification
from methadone, opioid antagonist treatment, and drug-free status. CSF endorphins
were measured in 86 patient samples using a radioreceptor assay (RRA), and β-endorphin
levels were measured in 85 patient samples using a radioimmuno assay (RIA). During
detoxification, both RRA fraction I and β-endorphin showed a generally similar pattern
of changes. Both were lowest when measured 40–50 hr after the last opioid dose, and
both showed an apparent rebound to higher than methadone maintenance values at 60–70
hr following the last dose. During methadone maintenance and drug-free states, the
addicts' levels of fraction I RRA endorphins in the CSF were higher than levels found
in a normal control group. Fraction II endorphins were also elevated in the addicts
who were drug free. In contrast, CSF β-endorphin during both methadone maintenance
and drug-free states was lower in the addicts as compared to the normal, drug-naive
group. Except for the pattern found during detoxification, there were no consistent
changes in endorphin levels across different states of addiction.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 6,
1988
Received:
October 1,
1987
Footnotes
☆Supported in part by NIDA Grant DA 01303 and by a grant from the VA Medical Research Service.
Identification
Copyright
© 1988 Published by Elsevier Inc.
