[The effect of reaferon on the opioid systems of chronically alcoholized rats]

Chronic alcoholic intoxication is followed by a fall in 3H-(D-ala-2,D-leu-5)-enkephalin affinity of mu-opioid receptors with their unchanged concentrations in the rat brain cortex, by reductions in the tissue and plasma levels of beta-endorphine and met-enkephalin. A daily administration of reaferon in a dose of 10,000 IU during two fortnights completely restored both the binding affinity of the receptors and the concentrations of the peptides tested: those of beta-endorphine in the adenohypophysis and plasma and those of metenkephalin in the adrenals and plasma.