Confirmation that offspring from families with alcohol-dependent individuals have greater hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation induced by naloxone compared with offspring without a family history of alcohol dependence

Background: This study was designed to confirm our previous findings that n onalcoholic offspring from families with alcohol-dependent individuals have greater hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation induced by opioid b lockade compared with nonalcoholic subjects without a family history of alc ohol dependence. Methods: Sixty-four nonalcoholic subjects aged 18 to 25 years were enrolled in the protocol. Twenty-seven subjects were offspring from families with a lcohol dependence and were designated as family history-positive subjects ( FHP). Thirty-seven subjects were biological offspring of non-alcohol-depend ent parents and were designated as family history-negative subjects (FHN). Subjects received naloxone hydrochloride (0, 50, 125, 375, and 500 mug/kg) in double-blind, randomized order; adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol were monitored over 120 min. Results: No hormone differences at baseline or during placebo administratio n were identified between FHP and FHN subjects. FH? subjects had greater AC TH and cortisol response to opioid receptor blockade induced by naloxone hy drochloride compared with FHN subjects. Conclusions: These observations confirm previous findings that differences in ACTH and cortisol dynamics between FHP and FHN subjects can be unmasked by opioid receptor blockade.