Central deficiency of beta-endorphin in alcohol addicts

Alcohol addiction may induce its dependence through a mechanism involving opiate receptors and opioid peptides. For these reasons, we measured ACTH,β-lipotropin, and β-endorphin in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 29 alcohol addicts and compared these values with those found in 8 normal volunteers. Although no significant differences existed in peripheral concentrations of the 3 peptides, alcohol addicts had β-endorphin levels in CSF (mean±se, 29.4±4.5 fmol/ml) that were 3-fold lower than those of the controls (98.4±10.5 fmol/ml; P<0.001) and ACTH levels 4 times higher than control values (30.0±1.8 vs. 7.4±1.1 fmol/ml in controls; P<0.001), while no difference was found in β-lipotropin levels. These results suggest that alcohol addiction is associated with a marked alteration in the CSF content of proopiocortin-related peptides which may play a role in the alcohol-seeking behavior typical of the syndrome. © 1982 by The Endocrine Society.