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)

Possible involvement of adenosine, as a secondary neurotransmitter, in opioid modulation of nociception and gastrointestinal function was investigated in mice. Inhibitory actions of theophylline, a nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist, were evaluated against effects evoked by opioid receptor-selective agonists administered at spinal or supraspinal sites. Intrathecal administration of theophylline significantly inhibited antinociceptive actions produced by intrathecal (i.th.) injections of morphine, [D-Ala2, NMPhe4, Gly-ol] enkephalin (DAMGO), [D-Pen2, D-Pen5] enkephalin (DPDPE) and beta-endorphin as measured with the warm water tail-flick assay. The rank order of rightward displacement of i.th. agonist dose-response curves by theophylline (i.th.) was DPDPE (greatest) > DAMGO > morphine > beta-endorphin. Theophylline was less effective as an inhibitor in the hot-plate assay. Additionally, i.th. administration of theophylline inhibited antinociceptive effects evoked by i.c.v. administration of opioids. The rank order of rightward displacement of dose-response curves after i.c.v. opioid administration was DAMGO (greatest) > beta-endorphin > morphine > DPDPE. In contrast to the effectiveness of theophylline administered i.th., theophylline coadministered i.c.v. with opioid agonists did not inhibit opioid-induced antinociception. Neither i.th. nor i.c.v. theophylline altered inhibitory effects on gastric emptying and gastrointestinal propulsion produced by i.th. or i.c.v. administration of selective opioid agonists. These data provide additional support for involvement of spinal adenosine as a secondary neurotransmitter in opioid antinociceptive processes associated with local spinal reflexes as well as in descending antinociceptive processes. Adenosine was not involved in modulation of opioid-activated gastrointestinal outflow pathways at either spinal or supraspinal levels.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1992 Dec
PMID:Involvement of adenosine in antinociception produced by spinal or supraspinal receptor-selective opioid agonists: dissociation from gastrointestinal effects in mice. 133 55

Pituitary cells, collected from five healthy dogs, were cultured and treated with various doses of ovine corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), arginine vasopressin (AVP), oxytocin (OT), or angiotensin II (AII) to determine which of these hypothalamic peptides affected adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) secretion. Of the 4 peptides, only CRH significantly increased ACTH secretion from cultured canine anterior pituitary cells. The lowest dose of CRH tested, 0.01 nM, significantly stimulated ACTH release. Co-addition of AVP, OT, or AII with CRH did not increase ACTH secretion beyond that caused by addition of CRH alone. Similarly, neither co-addition of AVP with OT, AVP with AII, or OT with AII significantly stimulated ACTH secretion. These results support a role for CRH in the physiologic regulation of ACTH secretion from the canine anterior pituitary, but do not support regulatory roles for AVP, OT, or AII.
Am J Vet Res 1992 Dec
PMID:Regulation of adrenocorticotropin secretion from cultured canine anterior pituitary cells. 133 8

Adjuvant arthritis (AA) in the rat leads to chronic stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the loss of its diurnal rhythmicity. We have investigated the effects of adrenalectomy (ADX) and different levels of corticosterone replacement upon plasma ACTH levels and anterior pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), GH and prolactin mRNAs during the development of AA. In control ADX animals, we observed the negative feedback effects of exogenous corticosterone on plasma ACTH and anterior pituitary POMC mRNA. In the ADX animal with AA, however, the increased POMC mRNA which was observed was not reduced by exogenous corticosterone on day 7 of AA, although the negative feedback effect of corticosterone on plasma ACTH was intact. On day 14, however, even high dose corticosterone replacement failed to have a significant feedback effect on the raised levels of plasma ACTH. In control ADX animals, corticosterone replacement resulted in increased anterior pituitary GH mRNA and reduced prolactin mRNA. In contrast, in ADX animals with AA, GH mRNA was reduced and there was a further decrease in prolactin mRNA. In these animals, corticosterone replacement did not affect GH or prolactin mRNA expression. These data demonstrate a disruption of the normal mechanisms underlying feedback inhibition of the HPA axis by glucocorticoids during AA. Similarly, the glucocorticoid-dependent regulation of GH and prolactin mRNA expression is altered in AA.
J Mol Endocrinol 1992 Dec
PMID:Glucocorticoid-mediated responses of plasma ACTH and anterior pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin, growth hormone and prolactin mRNAs during adjuvant-induced arthritis in the rat. 133 26

Glucocorticoids inhibit stimulus-evoked ACTH secretion by the rapid induction of new protein(s) that suppress intracellular free calcium signals. The present study examined whether the calcium receptor protein, calmodulin, is induced by glucocorticoids in the mouse pituitary corticotrope tumor (AtT20 D16:16) cell line. Treatment of AtT20 D16:16 cells with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone markedly (up to 10-fold) increased the level of a single (approximately 1.6kb) calmodulin mRNA 90 min after the application of steroid. Puromycin applied 15 min before and during dexamethasone treatment blocked the induction of this mRNA, suggesting that additional glucocorticoid induced transcription factor proteins may be required for enhanced calmodulin gene transcription. A two-fold increase in the intensity of an approximately 18K immunoreactive calmodulin protein band was detected by immunoblotting at 90 min after dexamethasone administration. Corticotropin releasing factor, added for 30 min at the start of steroid treatment, prevented the increase of calmodulin mRNA, as well as the suppression of corticotropin releasing factor-evoked ACTH release caused by dexamethasone. These data suggest that calmodulin may be involved in the early phase of glucocorticoid inhibition of pituitary ACTH release.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1992 Dec 30
PMID:Early glucocorticoid induction of calmodulin and its suppression by corticotropin-releasing factor in pituitary corticotrope tumor (AtT20) cells. 133 64

beta-Endorphin- and alpha-melanotrophin (alpha-MSH)-related peptides were extracted from the pars intermedia of Xenopus laevis maintained for 2, 4 or 6 weeks on a white background and for the same periods on a black background. The peptides were resolved under dissociating conditions by gel exclusion chromatography on Sephadex G-50 and they were detected by radioimmunoassay with antibodies to beta-endorphin, alpha,N-acetyl beta-endorphin and alpha-MSH. The beta-endorphin-related peptides separated into two fractions of different molecular size. Further purification of the peptides in each fraction was by ion exchange chromatography on SP-Sephadex C-25 and by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The alpha-MSH-related peptides were resolved by gel exclusion and ion exchange chromatography. The purified beta-endorphin- and alpha-MSH-immunoreactive peptides were identified by comparison of their chromatographic properties with the corresponding peptides from porcine pituitary or by comparison with synthetic peptides. The major form of beta-endorphin in the pars intermedia of the frog adapted to a white background was identified as alpha,N-acetyl beta-endorphin (1-8); it was accompanied by a small quantity of acetylated peptides with molecular size similar to beta-endorphin. In contrast, the pars intermedia of the frogs adapted to a black background contained approximately equal amounts of alpha,N-acetyl beta-endorphin (1-8) and the larger forms of beta-endorphin. The higher molecular weight forms were identified as the alpha,N-acetyl derivatives of beta-endorphin (1-26), (1-27) and (1-31); however after 6 weeks of white adaptation the sole remaining peptide in this group was the 26-residue peptide. An additional beta-endorphin immunoreactive peptide, provisionally identified as beta-endorphin (10-26), was present in both black- and white-adapted animals; the amounts of this peptide increased during white adaptation. Major differences in the processing of alpha-MSH were also observed. In the frogs adapted to a black background des-acetyl alpha-MSH greatly predominated over the acetyl form whereas after 6- weeks adaptation to a white background the acetylated peptide proved to be the principal component. The results demonstrate that the proteolytic processing of beta-endorphin and the acetylation of alpha-MSH in Xenopus laevis are influenced by background adaptation. The formation of beta-endorphin (1-8) appears to reflect the action of an endopeptidase that acts at the single arginine residue present at position 9.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
J Endocrinol 1992 Dec
PMID:The processing of beta-endorphin and alpha-melanotrophin in the pars intermedia of Xenopus laevis is influenced by background adaptation. 133 91

Graded doses arginine-vasopressin (AVP) were administered to depressed patients and control subjects to compare the sensitivity of the pituitary-adrenal system of these subjects for this compound. The plasma levels of cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and beta-endorphin were measured before and after intravenous AVP injection. The hormonal output was taken as a measure of pituitary-adrenal function. In control subjects 3 doses AVP and placebo were used, whereas in patients two doses AVP, a low and a high dose, and placebo were tested. All tests were carried out in the afternoon when the pituitary-adrenal system is stable and more susceptible for stimulation. Patients were subdivided into dexamethasone suppressors and nonsuppressors based on their DST status before testing to look for differences among these groups. Control subjects showed no response of the hormones to the lowest dose AVP and a moderate response to the higher doses. Interestingly, depressed patients as compared to controls responded more to the lowest dose AVP in particular with respect to ACTH. DST status did not influence the results. These findings suggest an enhanced sensitivity of the pituitary to low doses AVP in depressed patients. Thus, AVP might play a role in HPA dysfunction in depression.
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 1992 Dec
PMID:Stimulation of the pituitary-adrenal axis with a low dose [Arg8]-vasopressin in depressed patients and healthy subjects. 133 98

Stimulation of endogenous opiate secretion worsens circulatory dysfunction in several forms of shock, in part by inhibiting sympathetic activity. To investigate whether endogenous opiates have a similar effect in chronic heart failure (HF), we measured beta-endorphin concentrations and hemodynamic responses to naloxone infusion (2 mg/kg bolus + 2 mg.kg-1 x h-1) in six control (C) dogs and eight dogs with low-output HF produced by 3 wk of rapid ventricular pacing. The dogs with HF exhibited reduced arterial blood pressure (C, 123 +/- 4 vs. HF, 85 +/- 7 mmHg; P < 0.01) and cardiac outputs (C, 179 +/- 14 vs. HF, 76 +/- 2 ml.min-1 x kg-1; P < 0.01) and elevated plasma norepinephrine concentrations (C, 99 +/- 12 vs. HF, 996 +/- 178 pg/ml; P < 0.01) but normal beta-endorphin concentrations (C, 30 +/- 11 vs. HF, 34 +/- 12 pg/ml; P = NS). Naloxone produced similar transitory increases in blood pressure (C, 14 +/- 5 vs. HF, 26 +/- 25%) and cardiac output (C, 37 +/- 13 vs. HF, 22 +/- 15%) in both groups (both P = NS). No significant changes in norepinephrine concentration or systemic vascular resistance were observed in either group. These findings suggest that beta-endorphin secretion does not exacerbate circulatory dysfunction in chronic heart failure.
J Appl Physiol (1985) 1992 Dec
PMID:Effect of chronic left ventricular failure on beta-endorphin. 133 77

To investigate the possible involvement of pituitary hormones in the regulation of steroidogenesis during reptilian sexual differentiation, we tested the ability of gonadotropin (ovine FSH), adrenocorticotropin (porcine ACTH), and growth hormone (bovine GH) to stimulate in vitro steroidogenesis in embryonic adrenal-kidney-gonad complexes (AKGs) of a turtle, Trachemys scripta, during and after the temperature-sensitive period for sex determination (TSP). Radioimmunoassays were used to measure progesterone, testosterone, estradiol, and corticosterone in incubation media; additionally, immunoreactive ACTH was measured in plasma. Presumptive male and female AKGs were stimulated by both FSH and ACTH at each stage investigated. Secretion of progesterone and corticosterone was usually far greater than that of testosterone or estradiol in both basal and hormone-stimulated incubations. In general, AKGs from presumptive males secreted more progesterone and corticosterone than AKGs from presumptive females. Progesterone and estradiol secretions were stimulated by both FSH and ACTH, but testosterone secretion was stimulated only by ACTH. Corticosterone secretion was strongly stimulated by ACTH. GH failed to significantly stimulate steroid secretion. Plasma ACTH levels were significantly higher in males than in females, and both sexes had significantly higher plasma levels of ACTH after the TSP compared to during the TSP. Our data demonstrate that during the temperature-sensitive period AKGs are responsive to both gonadotropin and ACTH, and that there are significant sex differences in steroidogenesis, sensitivity to gonadotropin and ACTH, and plasma ACTH levels.
Biol Reprod 1992 Dec
PMID:Stimulation of in vitro steroidogenesis by pituitary hormones in a turtle (Trachemys scripta) within the temperature-sensitive period for sex determination. 133 78

Aim of the present study was the evaluation of ACTH and beta-endorphin-like-immunoreactivity (beta-ELI) in the inferior petrosal sinuses (IPS's) and in the peripheral blood of patients with Cushing's disease (Group 1), with GH- or PRL-secreting adenomas or nontumoral hyperprolactinemia (Group 2). These patients had undergone selective and bilateral simultaneous IPS sampling for diagnostic purposes or for neurosurgical indications. In the patients of Group 1, ACTH and beta-ELI levels were higher in the IPS ipsilateral than in the contralateral to the adenoma and in the periphery (p < 0.001). In the patients of Group 2 ACTH and beta-ELI levels were higher in the IPS's than in the peripheral blood (p < 0.001) and, in the 9 patients with GH- or PRL-secreting adenomas, they were higher in the IPS ipsilateral than in the contralateral to the adenoma and in the periphery (p < 0.05). A significant correlation exists between ACTH and beta-ELI in the periphery (p < 0.01; r = 0.72), in the IPS ipsilateral (p < 0.05; r = 0.54) and contralateral (p < 0.01; r = 0.66) to the adenoma in Group 1, but not in Group 2. In conclusion, higher beta-ELI levels were detected in the IPS's than in the peripheral blood not only in patients with Cushing's disease but also in those with other pituitary diseases not involving ACTH secretion. The absence of correlation between ACTH and beta-ELI in patients not bearing Cushing's disease suggests that in these conditions corticotrophs release ACTH and beta-endorphin in an independent manner.
J Endocrinol Invest 1992 Dec
PMID:Adrenocorticotropic hormone and beta-endorphin concentrations in the inferior petrosal sinuses in Cushing's disease and other pituitary diseases. 133 6

Male and female wild Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus Erxleben) and males and female albino outbred rats (Ipf:RIZ) were crossbred. The resulting animals (F1 hybrids) were the control, noninbred group (0% inbred). By systematic full-sib mating, two experimental groups (50 and 91% of inbred) were produced. Half of each group (both males and females) was exposed to physical stress (3 days of starvation and 3 hr of swimming). The other half of each group was anesthetized using ether to collect blood. The anterior pituitary hormone concentrations of prolactin (PRL), corticotropin (ACTH), and growth hormone (rGH) in blood serum were determined by the radioimmunoassay method. Significant relationships between the PRL, ACTH, and rGH concentrations in blood serum and the inbreeding coefficient were observed: A significant PRL content decrease in blood serum occurred (linear function) and the rGH and ACTH content diminished significantly rapidly (quadratic function). These changes were affected by an increase in homozygosity. Stress significantly influenced PRL, ACTH, and rGH concentrations as well. The sex of rats significantly determined PRL and ACTH content only. Hormone levels were also influenced by interactions between the factors studied (inbred level, sex, stress).
Biochem Genet 1992 Dec
PMID:The effect of genetic variability (degree of homozygosity) on serum levels of the anterior pituitary hormones prolactin, corticotropin, and growth hormone in rats. 133 58


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