Few studies have tried to determine the mechanisms of these differences in hormone levels following alcohol challenge. In one study, FHP and FHN nonalcoholic men were given alcohol and subsequently ovine CRF, and FHP men were found to have similar ACTH responses to oCRF in both the alcohol and placebo sessions; in contrast, FHN men had blunted responses to ACTH during the alcohol session (Waltman et al. 1994). In adult rats, acute alcohol increases corticosterone and ACTH levels primarily by stimulating the hypothalamic release of CRF and possibly vasopressin [see (Lee et al. 2004); (Rivier 1996)]. Effects of acute alcohol on beta-endorphin release are biphasic, as higher doses reduce hormone levels. Taken together these studies are consistent with the idea that low LR hormone responses may in part reside in the hypothalamus.
