Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01189 (beta-endorphin)
 21,003 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The remarkable morphinic capacities of endogenous opioid peptides give these agents particular and interesting properties. They can be found on different locations throughout the human body, where they bind to specific receptors. By means of various agonists and antagonists it was shown that endogenous opioids possibly play a prominent role in the control of hypophyseal secretions. The menstrual cycle is thought to represent one of the most important phenomena in which these agents are involved. In the presence of a steroid-sufficient environment (that is to say, in the luteal phase) beta-endorphin exerts a tonic inhibition on the secretion of GnRH and thereby on the LH-release. Moreover, the regulation of prolactin is probably under the control of endorphins interfering via dopamine (PIF). It becomes possible to explain a number of menstrual dysfunctions in this manner. The increased plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin, which are found after physical exercise, give rise to speculations as to their involvement in the frequently appearing menstrual irregularity in women athletes. The hypothesis proposing prolactin as being entirely responsible for these phenomena is unconvincing. We believe that endogenous opioid peptides could have a possible inhibitory effect on the GnRH-LH-axis. At this moment, methodological inaccuracies and differences of various studies make it very difficult to arrive at any firm conclusion.
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PMID:Endogenous opioid peptides in the control of the normal menstrual cycle and their possible role in athletic menstrual irregularities. 267 58

Respiratory effects of single positive and negative pressure pulses (PPP, NPP) applied to the functionally isolated upper airways (UA) were studied in 11 anaesthetized cats breathing spontaneously through a tracheal tube. The UA pressure and the changes of tracheal airflow were recorded and the blood pressure and electrocardiogram were occasionally monitored. Sniff-like aspiration reflexes comprising powerful spasmodic inspirations could be elicited by PPP or NPP of 20 to 110 cm H2O or -14 to -140 cm H2O. The responses to NPP but also to PPP characterized by high peak inspiratory flow, mean inspiratory flow and tidal volume (PIF = 312.5 +/- 64.3 and 231.1 +/- 21.7 ml.sec-1; VTI = 178.3 +/- 46.7 and 110.1 +/- 14.4 ml.sec-1; VT = 40.9 +/- 8.3 and 22.5 +/- 1.7 ml) resembled closely the aspiration reflex elicited by mechanical stimulation of the pharyngeal wall. Occasionally, sneezing, minor modifications of breathing pattern and solitary forced inspirations could be induced by lower pressures. The results indicate that sudden pressure stimulation of the UA evokes vigorous respiratory responses including the aspiration reflex. These reflexes and their alterations may contribute to development or release of both UA obstruction and apnoea, at least in cats.
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PMID:Sniff-like aspiration reflex evoked by pressure pulses from the upper airways in cats. 805 82