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

In mice carrying the autosomal recessive gene weaver, there is a massive postnatal loss of dopamine in the caudoputamen, the target of the nigrostriatal system, with relative (though not complete) preservation of dopamine in the ventral striatum, a target of the mesolimbic system. There is concomitant death of catecholaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, with much less cell death in the limbic midbrain area. In the study reported here, we have reexamined the mesostriatal system of weaver mice by means of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry in order to determine the local architecture of the defect within the striatum and substantia nigra. For the dorsal striatum, the most striking finding was the appearance in the weaver caudoputamen of small pockets of especially weak immunostaining within a larger dorsal zone of generally reduced TH-positive neuropil. These pockets were identified as striosomes by calbindin28k and met-enkephalin immunohistochemistry carried out on adjacent sections. In dorsal, central, and caudal sectors of the caudoputamen, there was also more generalized depletion of TH-immunoreactive neuropil. In the mid-brains of the mutants, the patterns of loss of TH-positive neurons appeared to correspond to these distributions of reduced immunostaining in the striatum. In the substantia nigra pars compacta, ventrally situated TH-positive neurons were especially affected, suggesting preferential depletion of TH-positive neurons projecting to striosomes. In addition, there was a central sector of nearly complete loss of TH-positive neurons in the substantia nigra para compacta and a marked depletion of TH-positive neurons in cell group A8 that, together, may have accounted for the diminution of TH-positive innervation of the striatal matrix. We conclude that the effects of the weaver gene discriminate among mesostriatal subsystems not only according to the regional affiliations of these subsystems within the dorsal and ventral striatum, but also according to the preferential association of the subsystems for the striosomal and matrical compartments of the caudoputamen. The depletion of TH-positive innervation was not confined to the dorsal striatum proper. The defect extended into the adjoining nucleus accumbens, where it appeared to affect the lateral "core" division, and included also a lateral part of the olfactory tubercle. Thus, as in the dorsal striatum, the defect in the TH-positive innervation of the ventral striatum closely follows the local architecture of this striatal region. Neuronal loss in the ventral tegmental area was not evident on qualitative analysis, but at the border between lateral cell group A 10 and medial cell group A9 there was obvious loss of immunostained neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Patterns of cell and fiber vulnerability in the mesostriatal system of the mutant mouse weaver. I. Gradients and compartments. 169 Jul 89

The ultrastructural localization and relations of substance P- and met-enkephalin-labeled neuronal structures were examined in the wall of the human gastric antrum during early fetal life. By 14-16 weeks of gestation, clearly discernable neural plexuses and a well developed external muscle coat were present. In the submucous coat, neural plexuses varied from immature forms consisting of 1-4 neurites partially enveloped by Schwann cell processes to more mature plexuses where neurons were completely enclosed by Schwann cell processes. Neuronal profiles with substance P- and met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivities were observed in the submucous plexus. In the myenteric plexus met-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity was seen within cell bodies and neurites. By contrast, although substance P-like immunoreactivity was observed in neurites in the myenteric plexus, no substance P-labeled somata could be identified. Unlabeled terminals were seen in contact with both unlabeled dendrites and met-enkephalinergic neurons. An increase in electron density was observed at the sites of contact. These structures probably represent early stages in the development of synaptic specializations. In addition, met-enkephalin-labeled varicosities were seen in apposition to smooth muscle cells of the circular muscle coat. This suggests that antral smooth muscle cells are directly innervated by met-enkephalin neurons.
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PMID:Ultrastructure and localization of substance P and met-enkephalin immunoreactivity in the human fetal gastric antrum. 241 74

The regional distribution of the three opioid peptide neuronal systems--proopiomelanocortin (POMC), proenkephalin A, and proenkephalin B--was investigated in the lower brainstem of Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) by immunocytochemical techniques. Antiserum to beta-endorphin/beta-lipotropin, [Met]-enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8, and human leumorphin were used to identify the POMC and the proenkephalin A and B systems, respectively. POMC-related immunoreactive material was not found in the neuronal perikarya in the lower brainstem; reactive fibers and apparent terminals were distributed in the substantia nigra, lemniscus lateralis, midbrain central gray, the nucleus raphes, nucleus parabrachialis lateralis, ventral area of the spinal trigeminal nerve, nucleus tractus solitarii, and in the reticular formation throughout the lower brainstem. Proenkephalin A-related immunoreactive neuronal perikarya were detected in the central gray, reticular formation, nucleus raphes, trapezoid body, nucleus parabrachialis lateralis and medialis, nucleus spinalis nervi trigemini, nucleus dorsalis nervi vagi, and in the nucleus tractus solitarii. Densely packed immunoreactive fibers were widely distributed in the substantia nigra, nucleus interpeduncularis, nucleus raphes, superior colliculus, periaqueductal central gray, nucleus parabrachialis lateralis and medialis, locus coeruleus, trapezoid body, nuclei cochleares, nucleus spinalis nervi trigemini, tractus spinalis nervi trigemini, nucleus tractus solitarii, nucleus dorsalis nervi vagi, nucleus gracilis, nucleus cuneatus, nucleus cuneatus accessorius, and in the reticular formation throughout the lower brainstem. Neuronal perikarya containing immunoreactive material related to proenkephalin B were found in the periaqueductal central gray, nucleus parabrachialis lateralis and medialis, nucleus tractus solitarii, and nucleus spinalis nervi trigemini. In addition, immunoreactive fibers were detected in the ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra, nucleus parabrachialis lateralis and medialis, nucleus vestibularis lateralis and medialis, and in some areas of the reticular formation. These anatomical findings demonstrate that these three opioid peptide neuronal systems are widely but uniquely distributed in the lower brainstem of the monkey.
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PMID:Comparative distribution of three opioid systems in the lower brainstem of the monkey (Macaca fuscata). 291 80

beta-Endorphin/beta-LPH-like immunoreactive neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and its surrounding areas were visualized by light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. Immunoreactive processes were found in the vicinity of the pia mater, in the lateral part of the external layer of the median eminence and near the lateral wall of the third ventricle. Neuronal perikarya contained immunoreactive dense granules as well as developed cell organellae. They received neuronal inputs from other neurons through axoplasmic and axodendritic synapses. Immunoreactive neuronal processes containing dense granules and mitochondria were found as preterminal elements on non-immunoreactive neuronal soma and dendrites. Immunoreactive processes also make intimate contact with capillaries in the arcuate nucleus near the median eminence.
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PMID:Light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry of beta-endorphin/beta-LPH-like immunoreactive neurons in the arcuate nucleus and surrounding areas of the rat hypothalamus. 293 Nov 56

The hormonal and neurochemical responses to acute ether stress, morphine, and/or naloxone were analyzed in infantile (13-day-old) and prepubertal (36-day-old) male CD rats in an attempt to identify a possible neurochemical correlate(s) for the previously demonstrated requisite maturation of the PRL response to ether stress. Neuronal serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA) activities were examined in the medial preoptic hypothalamic area (MPOH), medial basal hypothalamic area (MBH), and median eminence (ME). Ether stress increased plasma PRL, ACTH, and beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta end) as well as NE metabolism in the MPOH and MBH and neuronal 5-HT activity in the MBH, and decreased neuronal DA activity in the ME of prepubertal animals. Ether stress elicited similar changes in infantile animals, with the important exceptions that plasma PRL, neuronal 5-HT activity in the MBH, and neuronal DA synthesis in the ME were not affected at this earlier age. Morphine increased plasma PRL, ACTH, and beta end levels, elevated neuronal NE and 5-HT activities in the MPOH and MBH, and decreased DA synthesis in the ME in both infantile and prepubertal animals. Naloxone administration did not alter basal hormone concentrations or neuronal monoamine activity in any brain area, but did prevent all of the morphine-induced changes as well as the ether stress-induced changes in PRL, MBH neuronal 5-HT activity, and DA synthesis in the ME of prepubertal animals. In addition, naloxone augmented the ether stress-induced increases in ACTH and beta end in prepubertal rats. Indirect stimulation of 5-HT neurons by administration of the amino acid precursor of 5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptophan, resulted in decreased DA synthesis in the ME of infantile animals and increased plasma PRL levels in that age group, indicating that this portion of the neurochemical connection is already present in infantile animals. Furthermore, the 5-hydroxytryptophan-induced increase in PRL was blocked by pretreatment with naloxone. The results demonstrate that both the ether stress- and morphine-induced increases in plasma PRL, but not in ACTH or beta end, are associated with increased neuronal 5-HT activity in the MBH and a decreased neuronal DA activity in the ME, that these are opiate receptor-mediated effects, and that infantile rats apparently lack a functional opiate-5-HT connection, which matures some time between days 13 and 36 postnatally.
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PMID:Maturation of the prolactin and proopiomelanocortin-derived peptide responses to ether stress and morphine: neurochemical analysis. 300 67

Neuronal pathways containing alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) extending from the zona incerta and lateral hypothalamic area to the inferior colliculus and spinal cord were analyzed using both immunohistochemical localization and a retrograde tracer. Biotinized horseradish peroxidase injected into the inferior colliculus or the thoracic cord of the rat labeled a number of neurons in the zona incerta and lateral hypothalamic area. Simultaneous immunostaining of the same sections with alpha-MSH antiserum showed that some of these neurons are alpha-MSHergic.
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PMID:The descending alpha-MSHergic (alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-ergic) projections from the zona incerta and lateral hypothalamic area to the inferior colliculus and spinal cord in the rat. 402 3

The time of appearance of the antigenic determinants of ACTH-related peptides (16K fragment, ACTH, gamma-lipoprotein, and beta-endorphin) was determined immunohistochemically in the brain and pituitary gland of the fetal rat. Major antigenic determinants of the pro-ACTH/endorphin precursor first appear in basally located cells of the hypothalamus on day 12 of gestation. Long axonal fibers are evident at day 13. Laterally located cells give rise to lateral, superficial fibers, whereas medially located cells give rise to periventricular fibers. The antigenic determinants appear simultaneously in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland on day 16 and in the intermediate lobe on day 17. The intensity of immunostaining with anti-16K fragment antiserum is stronger than with the other antisera in the brain but is equal with other antisera in the pituitary. Neuronal perikarya always stain less intensely than pituitary cells. It is concluded that 1) ACTH-related antigenic determinants are produced within the central nervous system, and 2) cells containing ACTH-related antigenic determinants in pituitary gland and brain develop independently of one another.
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PMID:Ontogenesis of adrenocorticotropin-related peptide determinants in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland of the rat. 617 9

The preganglionic sympathetic neurons in the intermediolateral cell column of the thoracic and upper lumbar segments of the spinal cord which innervate the chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla, sympathoadrenal preganglionic neurons, were identified by the method of retrograde axonal transport of the fluorescent dyes Fast Blue and True Blue. In rats, Fast Blue or True Blue was injected into the medulla of the left adrenal gland. After a survival period of 5 days, the animals were perfusion fixed, the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord sectioned and processed for the immunofluorescent localization of met-enkephalin, neurophysin, oxytocin, serotonin, somatostatin and substance P immunoreactivity. Neuronal perikarya which were retrogradedly-labeled with Fast Blue or True Blue were observed in the intermediolateral cell column from the T1 to the L2 spinal cord segments. The distribution of the sympathoadrenal neurons was determined by counting the number of retrogradedly-labeled neurons per spinal cord segment. In the five animals used for quantifying the sympathoadrenal preganglionic neurons, the majority (72.3%) of the retrogradely-labeled neurons counted per spinal cord were located within the T7-T12 segments. The T9 segment contained the largest average number (20.1%) of retrogradely-labeled cells in a single segment. Met-enkephalin, serotonin and substance P immunoreactive fibers were prominent in the intermediolateral cell column, whereas oxytocin, neurophysin and somatostatin immunoreactive fibers were sparse. The met-enkephalin, serotonin and substance P fibers were seen surrounding both unlabeled and retrogradely-labeled neurons; somatostatin fibers appeared to preferentially contact retrogradely-labeled neurons; whereas, the neurophysin and oxytocin fibers were not found in proximity to retrogradely-labeled neurons. Met-enkephalin, neurophysin, oxytocin, somatostatin and substance P immunoreactivity were depleted in the intermediolateral cell column below the level of a spinal cord transection. Serotonin immunoreactivity was depleted in the intermediolateral cell column below the level of the transection for five to six segments, but sparse networks of immunoreactive fibers were observed in both the intermediolateral cell column and the ventral horn in more caudal segments. Met-enkephalin, serotonin, somatostatin and substance P immunoreactivity were decreased in both the contralateral and ipsilateral intermediolateral cell column below the level of a spinal cord hemisection, suggesting that both crossed and uncrossed descending pathways exist. Neurophysin and oxytocin immunoreactivity were depleted below the level of the hemisection in the ipsilateral intermediolateral cell column without noticeable decrease in the level of immunoreactivity in the contralateral intermediolateral cell column, suggesting that a decussation does not occur at the level of the spinal cord, but may exist above the level of the hemisection...
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PMID:The differential distribution and relationship of serotoninergic and peptidergic fibers to sympathoadrenal neurons in the intermediolateral cell column of the rat: a combined retrograde axonal transport and immunofluorescence study. 618 Mar 52

The distribution of twelve biologically active neuropeptides, i.e., thyrotropin-releasing hormone, corticotropin-releasing factor, pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides (adrenocorticotropic hormone, beta-endorphin, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone), leucine-enkephalin, dynorphin A, dynorphin B, cholecystokinin, substance P, galanin and calcitonin gene-related peptide, was examined by immunohistochemistry in the human dorsal vagal complex including the nucleus of the solitary tract, the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus and the area postrema. Immunoreactivity of all the twelve neuropeptides was found widely distributed in the various subdivisions of the nucleus of the solitary tract, showing a unique distribution for every peptide. Neuronal cell bodies immunostained with leucine-enkephalin, galanin and dynorphin B were found in this region. There were no immunopositive perikarya for any of the peptides in the other structures studied. Fibers containing galanin, corticotropin-releasing factor, substance P, dynorphin B, thyrotropin-releasing hormone and calcitonin gene-related peptide were observed at a relatively high density in the nucleus of the solitary tract. In the same structure, a moderately dense network of fibers immunostained with dynorphin A, cholecystokinin and leucine-enkephalin, but only solitary pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides-containing fiber fragments were observed. In the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus the most prominent network of fibers was found to contain thyrotropin-releasing hormone, galanin and substance P. In contrast to these, no beta-endorphin immunoreactivity was detected. The area postrema contained only moderate to low densities of galanin-, substance P-, calcitonin gene-related peptide-, dynorphin B- and cholecystokinin-immunoreactive fibers.
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PMID:Neuropeptides in the human dorsal vagal complex: an immunohistochemical study. 784 71

Short peptide sequences of ACTH 1-39 (the ACTH 4-9 analog Org 2766, ACTH 4-10 and its analog BIM 22015, and ACTH 1-13 [alpha-MSH]), which do not stimulate the adrenal cortex, have profound effects on the developing and regenerating neuromuscular system, in neonatal and in adult rats. Both development and regeneration are accelerated, as indicated by improved morphological, electrophysiological, behavioral and biochemical parameters. Regeneration in the central nervous system is problematic but the ACTH peptides may provide protection for CNS neurons, enhance denervation sensitivity or permit compensatory processes which facilitate functional recovery. Neuronal cells in culture respond to ACTH peptides by greater neurite outgrowth, and in some cell types, by increased B-50 expression. In all cases, susceptibility to ACTH peptide treatment varies with cell type, age, the specific peptide administered, its dosage and pattern of administration. External stress and the gender of the animal are additional factors that interact with the neurotrophic actions of the melanocortins.
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PMID:Non-corticotropic ACTH peptides modulate nerve development and regeneration. 827 76


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