The role of vasopressin in the nicotine-induced stimulation of ACTH and cortisol in men

Abstract

Experimental evidence indicates that arginine vasopressin (AVP) contributes to the release of ACTH under certain conditions. The present study investigates the role of vasopressin as a secretagogue of ACTH during cigarette smoking or nicotine infusion with additional injection of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and using the specific AVP antagonist d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)-AVP. We first tested the effect of the AVP antagonist (10 micrograms/kg body weight i.v.) on ACTH and cortisol release following cigarette smoking in 15 healthy young male smokers. Smoking led to marked increments in plasma nicotine and to a small rise in plasma ACTH and cortisol. Mean plasma ACTH and cortisol levels were at no time significantly altered by the antagonist. This might be due to a slight agonistic effect of the AVP antagonist, to high interindividual variability of the ACTH and cortisol responses after smoking or to a negligible role of AVP in smoking-induced ACTH release. In a second study we performed the following tests in six healthy male non-smokers: (1) nicotine infusion (1.0 micrograms/kg body weight per min); (2) CRH i.v. (100 micrograms); (3) AVP antagonist i.v. (5 micrograms/kg); (4) nicotine infusion plus CRH i.v.; (5) nicotine infusion plus AVP antagonist i.v.; (6) nicotine infusion plus CRH and AVP antagonist i.v.; and (7) sham infusion. Nicotine infusion led to greater increments of AVP, ACTH and cortisol than smoking without causing nausea. Peak nicotine levels after nicotine infusion were lower than after smoking. The AVP antagonist in the reduced dosage given alone had no effect on hormone levels. However, it slightly attenuated the effect of nicotine on ACTH and cortisol (P less than 0.05, ANOVA).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Influence of menstrual cycle on cytochrome P450 2A6 activity and cardiovascular effects of nicotine*

“…Nicotine infusion has been shown to result in a small increase (approximately 15%) in the plasma norepinephrine concentrations in male subjects 29 , 79 . Nicotine infusions have been shown to increase ACTH concentrations 80 , 81 . The results from the study by Newhouse et al 81 support our finding that plasma ACTH level is not elevated by low‐dose nicotine infusion.…”

Modulation of in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by nicotine and cotinine

“…The figure shows the amplification products of the positive cytokines, and 13-actin as a positive control cosa by smoke particles or aromatic/aliphatic compound absorbed on these particles. Nicotine is biologically highly active and induces a variety of hormones (adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol, vasopressin [16]). Corticosteroids are at least potent modulators of Ig synthesis and lead to enhanced in vitro IgE levels [7].…”

Effects of Nicotine Exposure on Renal Function of Normal and Hypercholesterolemic Rats

“…In addition, other vasoactive hormones including vasopressin, endothelin-1 and depletion of vasodilator agents like NO play also a role in the pathomechanisms of hemodynamic effects exerted by nicotine [3, 15]. Thus, NO may counteract the vasoconstrictor effect exerted by nicotine action on the adrenergic system [16].…”