Brain beta-endorphin and other opioids are involved in restraint stress-induced stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the sympathetic nervous system, and the adrenal medulla in the rat.

Opiates and opioids have complex effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and they stimulate the sympathetic nervous system. This study was designed to clarify the role of brain beta-endorphin in the mechanism by which stress increases plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), epinephrine (E), and norepinephrine (NE). Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of beta-endorphin to rats significantly increased plasma ACTH levels at doses of 0.09, 0.3, and 1.5 nmol, and plasma E and NE levels at doses of 0.3 and 1.5 nmol. The rise of plasma ACTH, E, and NE levels by 0.3 nmol beta-endorphin was inhibited by intravenous (i.v.) administration of 2 mg/kg b.wt. naloxone. I.v. administration of anti-rat corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) rabbit serum completely blocked the beta-endorphin-induced ACTH secretion without affecting the secretion of E and NE. I.c.v. administration of anti-beta-endorphin rabbit gamma-globulin attenuated a 30-min restraint stress-induced rise of plasma ACTH levels without significant influence on the rise of E and NE levels, whereas i.v. administration of naloxone attenuated the restraint stress-induced rise of plasma ACTH, E and NE levels. These results suggest that i.c.v. administration of beta-endorphin stimulates the secretion of ACTH, E, and NE through opiate receptor, and that brain CRH mediates the beta-endorphin-induced secretion of ACTH. The results also suggest that brain beta-endorphin is, at least in part, involved in the restraint stress-induced stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and that some opioids other than beta-endorphin are involved in the stimulatory mechanism of the autonomic nervous system and the adrenal medulla in the rat.