123 citations
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May 2009 in “Journal of Neuroscience” In this study, researchers found that in late pregnancy, the neuroactive progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone inhibits HPA axis responses to immune challenges via an opioid-mediated mechanism.
41 citations
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February 2012 in “Journal of Neuroendocrinology” This study suggests that in late pregnancy, allopregnanolone induces opioid inhibition of oxytocin secretion in response to immune challenge, potentially minimizing the risk of preterm labor in rats.
1 citations
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October 2005 in “Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes” This study found that in pregnant rats, the suppression of ACTH responses to IL-1β is linked to the action of endogenous opioids and AP, with AP potentially inducing opioid inhibition through increased pENK-A expression.
8 citations
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April 2021 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation” Finasteride reduces opioid use and withdrawal symptoms in animals.
September 2020 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” This study found that finasteride reduced opioid self-administration in zebrafish and rats without affecting pain relief, suggesting steroidogenic pathways may offer new treatment avenues for opioid use disorder.