combat injury in Iraq and post-traumatic stress disorder It is my hypothesis that DHEA was selected by evolution because it optimizes replication and transcription of DNA. Therefore, all tissues rely on sufficient levels of DHEA for optimal function. This produces a competition among tissues for available DHEA. Trauma triggers a reduction in available DHEA for repair of injured tissues. It is also my hypothesis that cortisol evolved to counteract the actions of DHEA. (I think this ratio determines the "fight-or-flight" mechanism.) Therefore, when DHEA is low, the effects of cortisol increase. It is well known that excessive cortisol exposure for excessive time causes damage, especially to the nervous system. I suggest this is why trauma causes mental problems; prolonged cortisol exposure may actually damage neurons. That is, the results of trauma switch available DHEA from the brain to repair and healing processes. The brain is then subject to the negative effects of cortisol and these cause post-traumatic stress disorder. Well, again, it is also my hypothesis that all drugs of abuse first block receptors in the brain which then stimulates DHEA production. Continued use of these drugs ultimately starts a cycle of DHEA stimulation followed by DHEA reduction which becomes a cycle and causes addiction. Ultimately, the adrenal glands' ability to produce DHEA is exhausted and drug abusers crash, either for the short run or long run. My point of importance to your report is that initial use of morphine increases production of DHEA. This initial impulse of DHEA increases available DHEA which provides DHEA for the trauma and the brain. That is, the morphine reduces the effects of increased cortisol by increasing the DHEA to cortisol ratio. I suggest the foregoing may be the explanation of these findings. James Michael Howard Fayetteville, Arkansas ? Other posts:
• Anyone have electronic access to Progress in Brain Rsearch
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