Abstract:

Objective  To explore the influence of heroin withdrawal, methadone detoxication and heroin relapse on expression of β-endorphin (β-EP), and adrenocorticotropic hormone( ACTH) in rat adrenal chromaffin cells, and the change of cortisal (COR) level in the serum. Methods Sixty-three adult male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group(NCG)，saline control group (SCG) and experiment groups(EG). The EG groups were further subdivided into heroin withdrawal group (HWG), methadone detoxication group(MDG) and heroin relapse group(HRG). Immunohistochemical SABC method, image analysis and radioimmunoassay technique were used．Results Compared with NCG and SCG，the mean grey value of β-EP-IR cells was increased in HWG. After the treatment of methadone, compared with NCG and SCG，the mean grey value of β-EP cells was lower in MDG.The mean gray value of β-EP cells in HRG was increased but there was no statistical significance when compared with NCG and SCG. Compared with NCG and SCG, the ACTH-IR cells expressed less in the EG groups. Immunohistochemical analysis showed higher grey value in EG rats than that in controls. Serum COR level in the EG groups were at a higher level than that in NCG and SCG (P <0.05). Conclusion Heroin withdrawal, methadone detoxication and heroin relapse have influenced the expression of β-EP and ACTH in adrenal chromaffin cells and the serum COR level in rats.

Key words: β-endorphin, Adrenocorticotropic hormone , Cortisal , Adrenal chromaffin cells , Heroin , Immunohistochemistry , Rat