Haloperidol increases plasma beta endorphin-like immunoreactivity and cortisol in normal human males.

To investigate possible central dopaminergic regulation of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta E-LI) and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) release in humans, we gave the dopamine antagonist haloperidol or placebo intravenously to twelve normal male subjects and measured beta E-LI and cortisol for 120 minutes following injection. Haloperidol, but not placebo, produced significant increases in plasma beta E-LI and cortisol. These findings suggest that central dopaminergic pathways such as the tuberohypophyseal system may participate in regulation of the secretion of beta E and ACTH from the human pituitary.