Adrenergic Blockade and the Corticosteroid and Growth Hormone Responses to Methylamphetamine

Abstract

THE observation that the hypothalamus has a high concentration of adrenergic neurones¹ and the highest catecholamine content of any central nervous system structure² has focused attention on the possible role of central catecholamines in neuroendocrine regulation. In a previous study³ we have shown that the sympathomimetic and central stimulant drugs dextro- and methylamphetamine cause significant elevation of plasma corticotrophin, corticosteroids and growth hormone levels in human subjects. The rise in corticosteroids is most pronounced in the evening. It seems likely that the amphetamines act either directly on the hypothalamic neurones responsible for secretion of pituitary hormone releasing factors, or that they result in the local accumulation of catecholamines which then cause these neurones to secrete.