Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of our current state of knowledge regarding the effects of alcohol, the narcotics and the barbiturates on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in the male. Three facets of this problem will be considered: acute drug effects; chronic effects, particularly with respect to the development of tolerance and physical dependence; and, finally, an attempt will be made to indicate the way in which these three substances of abuse are similar and/or dissimilar in their effects on this system. The effects of acute and chronic treatment with narcotics, alcohol and the barbiturates will be discussed first and then an attempt will be made, in a General Discussion, to summarize the data, make general comparisons between the drugs and suggest future lines of research.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Azizi, F., Vagenakis, A.G., Longcope, C., Ingbar, S.H. and Braverman, L.E.: Decreased serum testosterone concentration in male heroin and methadone addicts. Steroids 22:467–472, 1973.
Badr, S.M. and Bartke, A.: Effect of ethyl alcohol on plasma testosterone levels in mice. Steroids 23:921–927, 1974.
Beattie, C.W., Campbell, C.S., Nequin, L.G., Soyha, L.F. and Schwartz, N.B.: Barbiturate blockade of tonic LH secretion in the male and female rat. Endocrinology 92:1630–1638, 1973.
Cicero, T.J. and Meyer, E.R.: Morphine pellet implantation in rats: Quantitative assessment of tolerance and dependence. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 184:404–408, 1973.
Cicero, T.J., Meyer, E.R., Bell, R.D. and Wiest, W.: Effects of morphine on the secondary sex organs and plasma testosterone levels of rats. Res. Commun. Chem. Pathol. Pharmacol. 7: 17–24, 1974.
Cicero, T.J., Bell, R.D., Wiest, W.G., Allison, J.H., Polakoski, K. and Robins, E.: Function of the male sex organs in heroin and methadone users. N. Engl. J. Med. 292:882–887, 1975a.
Cicero, T.J., Meyer, E.R., Wiest, W.G., Olney, J.W. and Bell, R.D.: Effects of chronic morphine administration on the reproductive system of the male rat. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 192:542–548, 1975b.
Cicero, T.J., Meyer, E.R., Bell, R.D. and Koch, G.A.: Effects of morphine and methadone on testosterone, luteinizing hormone and the secondary sex organs of the male rat. Endocrinology 98: 365–370, 1976a.
Cicero, T.J., Wilcox, C.E., Bell, R.D. and Meyer, E.R.: Acute reductions in serum testosterone levels by narcotics in the male rat: stereospecificity, blockade by naloxone and tolerance. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 198:340–346, 1976b.
Cicero, T.J., Bell, R.D., Meyer, E.R. and Schweitzer, J.: Narcotics and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis: acute effects on luteinizing hormone, testosterone and androgen dependent systems. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 1976c, in press.
Fahim, M.S., Dement, G., Hall, D.G. and Fahim, Z.: Induced alterations in hepatic metabolism of androgens in the rat. Amer. J. Obstet. Gynec. 107:1085–1091, 1970.
Freund, G.: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome in mice. Arch. Neurol. 21:315–320, 1969.
Freund, G., and Walker, D.W.: Sound-induced seizures during ethanol withdrawal in mice. Psychopharmacologia 22:45–59, 1971.
Galvao-Teles, A., Anderson, D.C., Burke, C.W., Marshall, J.C., Corker, C.S., Brown, R.L. and Clark, M.L.: Biologically active androgens and estradiol in men with chronic liver disease. Lancet 1:173–177, 1973.
Gordon, G.G., Olivo, J., Rafii, F., and Southren, A.L.: Conversion of androgens to estrogens in cirrhosis of the liver. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 40:1018–1026, 1975.
Hunter, B.E., Walker, D.W., Boast, C.A. and Zornetzer, S.F.: Ethanol dependence in the rat. Neural and Behavioral correlates. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 1:719–725, 1973.
Kosterlitz, H.W. and Waterfield, A.A.: In vitro models in the study of structure-activity relationships of narcotic analgesics. Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. 15:29–57, 1975.
Lloyd, C.W. and Williams, R.H.: Endocrine changes associated with Laennec’s cirrhosis of the liver. Amer. J. Med. 4:315–330, 1948.
Martin, W.R., Jasinski, D.R., Haertzen, C.A., Kay, P.C., Jones, B.E., Mansky, P.A. and Carpenter, R.W.: Methadone- a reevaluation. Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 28:286–295, 1973.
McCormack, C.E. and Strauss, W.F.: Reversal by Progesterone of phenobarbitone-blockade of ovulation in the prepubertal rat primed with pregnant mouse serum gonadotropin. J. Endocr. 65: 177–182, 1975.
Mendelson, J.H. and Mello, N.K.: Alcohol, aggression and androgens. Res. Publ. Assoc. Res. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 52:225–247, 1974.
Mendelson, J.H., Mendelson, J.E. and Patch, V.D.: Plasma testosterone levels in heroin addiction and during methadone maintenance. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 192:211–217, 1975a.
Mendelson, J.H., Meyer, R.E., Ellingboe, J., Mirin, S.M. and McDougle, M.: Effects of heroin and methadone on plasma Cortisol and testosterone. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 195:296–302, 1975b.
Mendelson, J.H., Inturrisi, C.E., Renault, P. and Senay, E.C.: Effects of acetylmethadol on plasma testosterone. Clinical Pharmacol. Ther. 19:371–374, 1976.
Meyer, R.R., Karavolas, H.J., Klausing, M. and Norgard, P.W.: Blood progesterone and pregnenolone levels during phenobarbital (PB) block of PMS-induced ovulation in immature rats. Endocrinology 88:983–990, 1971.
Moyle, W.R. and Ramachandran, J.: Effect of LH on steroidogenesis and cyclic AMP accumulation in rat Leydig cell preparations and mouse tumor Leydig cells. Endocrinology 93:127–134, 1973.
Niswender, G.P., Reichert, L.E., Midgley, A.R. and Nalbandov, A.V.: Radioimmunoassay for bovine and ovine luteinizing hormone. Endocrinology 84:1166–1173, 1969.
Pert, C.B. and Snyder, S.H.: Properties of opiate receptor binding, in brain. P.N.A.S. USA 70:2243–2247, 1973.
Rubin, E., Lieber, CS., Altman, K., Gordon, C.G. and Southren, A.L.: Prolonged ethanol consumption increases testosterone metabolism in the liver. Science 191:563–564, 1976.
Shin, S.H. and Jowitt, C.: Effects of castration on luteinizing hormone and luteinizing hormone releasing factor in the male rat. J. Endocrin. 65:447–448, 1975.
Sorrentino, S.: Ovulation in PMS-treated rats with gonadotropin releasing hormone after pentobarbital and melatonin block. Neuroendocrinology 19:170–176, 1975.
Southren, A.L., Gordon, G.G., Olivo, J., Rafii, F., and Rosenthal, W.S.: Androgen metabolism in cirrhosis of the liver. Metabolism 22:695–702, 1973.
Symons, A.M. and Marks, V.: Effects of alcohol on weight gain and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadotropin axis in the maturing male rat. Biochem. Pharmacol. 24:955–958, 1975.
Thomas, J.A. and Dombrosky, J.T.: Effects of methadone on the male reproductive system. Arch. Int. Pharmacodyn. Ther. 215:215–221, 1975.
Van Thiel, D.H., Lester, R. and Sherins, R.J.: Hypogonadism in alcoholic liver disease: Evidence for a double effect. Gastroenterology 61:1188–1199, 1974.
Van Thiel, D.H., Gavaler, J.S., Lester, R., and Goodman, M.D.: Alcohol-induced testicular atrophy. An experimental model for hypogonadism occurring in chronic alcoholic men. Gastroenterology 69: 326–332, 1975.
Wallgren, H., and Barry, H.: Actions of Alcohol Vol. I, Chapters 4, 5,6 and 7. Elsevier Publishing Company, New York, pp. 156–387, 1970.
Yamamoto, M., Diebel, N.D. and Bogdanove, E.M.: Analysis of initial and delayed effects of orchidectomy and ovariectomy on pituitary and serum LH levels in adult and immature rats. Endocrinology 86:1102–1111, 1970.
Ylikahri, R., Huttunen, M., Harkonen, M., Seuderling, U., Onikki, S., Karonen, S.L. and Adlercreutz, H.: Low plasma testosterone values in men during hangover. J. Steroid Biochem. 5:655–658, 1974.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1977 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Cicero, T.J., Badger, T.M. (1977). A Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Narcotics, Alcohol and the Barbiturates on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis. In: Gross, M.M. (eds) Alcohol Intoxication and Withdrawal—IIIb. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 85B. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9038-5_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9038-5_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-9040-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-9038-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive