Role of endorphins in benzodiazepine-induced hyperglycaemia in mice.

The possibility that benzodiazepine-induced hyperglycaemia is mediated through the release of endogenous endorphins was tested. The results show that naloxone, the opiate antagonist, potentiated clonazepam-induced hyperglycaemia. Treatment with increasing doses of morphine for six days, which induced tolerance to endorphins, did not affect clonazepam-induced hyperglycaemia. The results indicate that endorphins do not mediate benzodiazepine-induced hyperglycaemia.