argipressin--des-glynh2(9)- and Heroin-Dependence

Evidence is accumulating that hormonal systems present in the pituitary and the brain play a critical role in behavioral homeostase. The hormones and their fragments, called neuropeptides, produced by these systems modulate neurotransmitter activity and thereby control brain functions. Disturbances in this hormonal control may result in psychopathology, including addiction. Vasopressin and related peptides decrease under certain conditions addictive behavior of experimental animals and humans and brain reward. The pituitary and brain opioid peptides are candidates to play an essential role in reward processes and may be common factors in addiction to various psychoactive drugs, including heroin and alcohol, and to habits. Other pituitary hormones, like ACTH, gamma 2-MSH and prolactin have also been implicated in brain reward and drug addiction. It is postulated that disturbances in the hormonal and neuropeptide systems may lead to a state in which addiction behavior can easily be elicited and that the hormonal climate in the body may be of relevance for the individual susceptibility to addictive drugs. It is proposed to analyse the relation between hormonal systems and addictive behavior.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Alcoholism; Animals; Arginine Vasopressin; beta-Endorphin; Brain; Endorphins; Haplorhini; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; Naltrexone; Neurotransmitter Agents; Peptides; Pituitary Gland; Rats; Reinforcement, Psychology; Reward; Substance-Related Disorders

Mild to moderate heroin addicts started on ambulatory detoxification with methadone were sublingually treated with placebo or desglycinamide9-arginine8-vasopressin (DGAVP, 1 mg/day) for 5 days using a double-blind design. Treatment with DGAVP (6 patients) led to a longer time course of clinic attendance and resulted in a higher percentage of successful detoxifications as compared to placebo treatment (6 patients). The analyses of urine samples revealed that DGAVP treatment decreased the use of heroin and cocaine below that with placebo treatment. The medical attendant judged DGAVP treatment superior to placebo treatment. It is concluded that treatment with DGAVP during the initial phase of methadone detoxification of heroin addicts may facilitate detoxification. This beneficial effect of DGAVP is consistent with animal data showing that this peptide may attenuate the reinforcing qualities of heroin.

Topics: Adult; Arginine Vasopressin; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Male; Methadone; Prognosis