Abstract
Noradrenergic receptor sensitivity of 16 healthy male siblings of heroin addicts and of 8 age and sex-matched controls was examined by administering a clonidine stimulation test and by measuring the resulting growth hormone (GH) (alpha-2-adrenoceptors) and beta-endorphin (beta-endorphin) (alpha-1-adrenoceptors) responses. Siblings were divided into two groups: A = siblings of heroin addicts with personality disorders and high aggressivity and B = siblings of heroin addicts without mental disorders. The GH and beta-endorphin responses to clonidine were blunted in group A subjects compared with controls and normal in group B.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aggression / physiology
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Antisocial Personality Disorder / genetics
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Antisocial Personality Disorder / physiopathology
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Antisocial Personality Disorder / psychology
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Clonidine
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Growth Hormone / blood
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Heroin Dependence / genetics*
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Heroin Dependence / physiopathology
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Heroin Dependence / psychology
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Humans
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Male
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Norepinephrine / physiology
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Personality Assessment
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Personality Disorders / genetics*
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Personality Disorders / physiopathology
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Personality Disorders / psychology
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Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / drug effects
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Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / genetics*
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Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / physiology
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Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / drug effects
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Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / genetics*
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Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / physiology
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Risk Factors
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beta-Endorphin / blood
Substances
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Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1
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Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2
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beta-Endorphin
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Growth Hormone
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Clonidine
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Norepinephrine