Naltrexone potentiates glycemic responses during stress and epinephrine challenge in genetically obese mice

The genetically obese mouse (C57BL/6J ob/ob) is a commonly used animal model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. These mice show exaggerated glycemic responses during behavioral stress and adrenergic stimulation, but the precise glucoregulatory mechanisms are not well characterized. The ob/ob mice have multiple endocrine abnormalities, including elevated pituitary and circulating beta-endorphin levels; and a relationship between hyperglycemia and altered opioid function has been suspected. We now report that opiate antagonism with naltrexone potentiates hyperglycemic responses during stress and epinephrine challenge in obese mice. This effect of opioid blockade suggests that endogenous opioids inhibit stress- and epinephrine-induced hyperglycemia in the genetically obese mouse.