Alprazolam (ALP), a benzodiazepine that activates gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic receptors, inhibits the activity of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, probably via inhibition of hypothalamic CRH and/or arginine vasopressin release. To further clarify the effects of ALP on the HPA axis in humans, in six normal young women (26-34 yr old) we studied the effects of 0.02 mg/kg ALP (administered orally at 0700 h) or placebo on ACTH, cortisol (F), and 11-deoxycortisol (S) levels assayed after placebo or metyrapone (MET; 0.04 g/kg administered orally at 2300 h the night before). After placebo administration, ACTH, F, and S levels showed a progressive decrease from 0700-1200 h (P < 0.03). At 0700 h, ACTH, F, and S levels before ALP overlapped with those after placebo. At 1200 h, ACTH, F, and S levels after ALP were lower than those after placebo (P < 0.03). MET pretreatment strongly increased ACTH (P < 0.03) and S (P < 0.02) while clearly inhibiting F (P < 0.03) levels at 0700 h. After MET, ACTH levels did not show any decrease up to 1200 h; similarly, S levels persisted similar up to 1200 h, whereas F levels at 1200 h were significantly increased (P < 0.03). At 0700 h, MET-induced ACTH and F levels before ALP overlapped with those after MET alone. The MET-induced ACTH levels at 1200 h were markedly inhibited by ALP (P < 0.05). At 1200 h after MET and ALP, a clear reduction of S levels (P < 0.02) and an insignificant F reduction were also found. In conclusion, our present data show that ALP inhibits basal and, much more, metyrapone-induced corticotroph secretion. These findings indicate that the inhibitory effect of central gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic activation by ALP overrides the stimulatory effect of the MET-induced lack of negative F feedback on corticotroph secretion. These results also point toward potential contraindication of ALP administration in patients with suspected hypoadrenalism.

The inhibitory effect of alprazolam, a benzodiazepine, overrides the stimulatory effect of metyrapone-induced lack of negative cortisol feedback on corticotroph secretion in humans.

ARVAT, Emanuela;GIORDANO, Roberta;BROGLIO, Fabio;CAMANNI, Franco;GHIGO, Ezio
1999-01-01

Abstract

Alprazolam (ALP), a benzodiazepine that activates gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic receptors, inhibits the activity of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, probably via inhibition of hypothalamic CRH and/or arginine vasopressin release. To further clarify the effects of ALP on the HPA axis in humans, in six normal young women (26-34 yr old) we studied the effects of 0.02 mg/kg ALP (administered orally at 0700 h) or placebo on ACTH, cortisol (F), and 11-deoxycortisol (S) levels assayed after placebo or metyrapone (MET; 0.04 g/kg administered orally at 2300 h the night before). After placebo administration, ACTH, F, and S levels showed a progressive decrease from 0700-1200 h (P < 0.03). At 0700 h, ACTH, F, and S levels before ALP overlapped with those after placebo. At 1200 h, ACTH, F, and S levels after ALP were lower than those after placebo (P < 0.03). MET pretreatment strongly increased ACTH (P < 0.03) and S (P < 0.02) while clearly inhibiting F (P < 0.03) levels at 0700 h. After MET, ACTH levels did not show any decrease up to 1200 h; similarly, S levels persisted similar up to 1200 h, whereas F levels at 1200 h were significantly increased (P < 0.03). At 0700 h, MET-induced ACTH and F levels before ALP overlapped with those after MET alone. The MET-induced ACTH levels at 1200 h were markedly inhibited by ALP (P < 0.05). At 1200 h after MET and ALP, a clear reduction of S levels (P < 0.02) and an insignificant F reduction were also found. In conclusion, our present data show that ALP inhibits basal and, much more, metyrapone-induced corticotroph secretion. These findings indicate that the inhibitory effect of central gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic activation by ALP overrides the stimulatory effect of the MET-induced lack of negative F feedback on corticotroph secretion. These results also point toward potential contraindication of ALP administration in patients with suspected hypoadrenalism.
1999
84(8)
2611
2615
ARVAT E; MACCAGNO B; RAMUNNI J; DI VITO L; GIORDANO R; GIANOTTI L; BROGLIO F; CAMANNI F; GHIGO E
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/40320
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 4
  • Scopus 30
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 24
social impact