Cited by 132Stress Responses and CortisolNeuropeptides and Animal PhysiologyAdrenal Hormones and Disorders

Activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis by addictive drugs: different pathways, common outcome

Armario, Antonio·2010·Trends in Pharmacological Sciences

Abstract

Addictive drugs (opiates, ethanol, cannabinoids (CBs), nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines) induce activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, with the subsequent release of adrenocorticotropic hormone and glucocorticoids. The sequence of events leading to HPA activation appears to start within the brain, suggesting that activation is not secondary to peripheral homeostatic alterations. The precise neurochemical mechanisms and brain pathways involved are markedly dependent on the particular drug, although it is assumed that information eventually converges into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Whereas some drugs may act on the hypothalamus or directly within PVN neurons (i.e. ethanol), others exert their primary action outside the PVN (i.e. CBs, nicotine, cocaine). Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) has a critical role in most cases, but the changes in c-fos and CRH gene expression in the PVN also reveal differences among drugs. More studies are needed to understand how addictive drugs act on this important neuroendocrine system and their functional consequences.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.tips.2010.04.005

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Authors
Armario, A.
Affiliations
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ES)
Corresponding author
Armario, Antonio
Venue
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2010-07
Volume
31
Issue
7
Pages
318-325
ISSN
0165-6147 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2110450709
Cited by
131
References
102
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 5 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 11
FWCI
0.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Trends in Pharmacological Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
Keywords
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, drugs of abuse, drug addiction, ACTH, glucocorticoids, paraventricular nucleus, corticotropin-releasing factor, Fos expression, CRH gene expression, opioids, ethanol, cannabinoids, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamine, neuroendocrine activation
MeSH terms
Ethanol, Amphetamine, Analgesics, Opioid, Animals, Cannabinoids, Central Nervous System Agents, Cocaine, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Nicotine, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Treatment Outcome, Substance-Related Disorders, Metabolic Networks and Pathways

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