查看文章

The present study was designed to determine whether there are gender differences in hormonal response patterns to HPA axis activation. To this end, two methods of activating the HPA axis were employed: a standardized psychological stress test and a pharmacological challenge. Healthy subjects (mean age 23.4 years, SD 7.0 years) completed a naloxone challenge and/or the modified Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). For the naloxone challenge, two baseline blood samples were obtained. Placebo was then administered (0min), followed by increasing doses of intravenous naloxone (50, 100, 200 and 400μg/kg) at 30-min intervals. Post-placebo blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals for 180min. The TSST consisted of 5min of public speaking followed by 5min of mental arithmetic exercises. Three baseline and five post-TSST blood samples were drawn. Eighty subjects (53 male, 27 female) underwent …