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)

Previous immunochemical investigations have demonstrated various opioid peptides in the pancreas. However, controversies exist related to the cellular localization of these peptides in the endocrine pancreas. Therefore, the guinea pig endocrine pancreas was immunohistochemically investigated for the presence of opioid peptides derived from pro-dynorphin, pro-enkephalin or pro-opiomelano-cortin. Immunoreactivities were demonstrated on serial semithin sections by the peroxidase anti-peroxidase technique. In routinely immunostained sections, immunoreactivities for dynorphin A and alpha-neo-endorphin were localized in pancreatic enterochromaffin cells, but not in islet cells. Immunoreactivity for Met-enkephalin was confined exclusively to B-cells and was localized only in some secretory granules. However, pre-treatment of semi-thin sections with trypsin and carboxypeptidase B led to a marked increase of Met-enkephalin immunoreactivity in B-cells. In addition, immunoreactivities for Met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu and bovine adrenal medulla dodecapeptide could be demonstrated in B- and A-cells, and beta-endorphin immunoreactivity was localized in A-cells. In no case, however, were immunoreactivities detected for bovine adrenal medulla docosapeptide, peptide F, corticotropin, melanotropin or dynorphin 1-32. The immunohistochemical findings indicate that opioids of different peptide families are present in the guinea pig endocrine pancreas. Since several opioid peptides of the corresponding pro-hormones could be demonstrated in the reference organs but not in the pancreas, it is concluded that the biosynthetic pathways of the respective precursors are different from those in the adrenal medulla or in the pituitary.
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PMID:Immunohistochemistry of opioid peptides in the guinea pig endocrine pancreas. 197 Sep 50

In-situ hybridization with synthetic oligonucleotide probes was used to determine the mRNA content of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) and proenkephalin A mRNA in the paraventricular nucleus, and of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA in the anterior pituitary gland of male rats immediately after, and during recovery from, chronic high-dose prednisolone treatment. Levels of transcripts for mRNA for both CRF and POMC were markedly reduced after the treatment, but there was a rapid return to control values for CRF mRNA within 18 h of steroid withdrawal. In untreated animals, the stressful stimulus of i.p. hypertonic saline increased CRF and proenkephalin A mRNA within 4 h with no significant difference in response seen whether the tissues were removed at 13.00 or 20.00 h. The increase in POMC mRNA did not reach statistical significance in these animals. Although prednisolone resulted in a marked reduction of basal CRF mRNA, the stress-induced increment of CRF mRNA remained comparable with that found in untreated animals. On the day following cessation of prednisolone treatment at 09.00 h, basal and stress levels of CRF mRNA were significantly higher in rats killed at 20.00 h than at 13.00 h. Proenkephalin A mRNA transcripts were below quantifiable levels of detection in control or non-stressed prednisolone-treated animals at all the time-points studied. Stress, however, resulted in the accumulation of proenkephalin A mRNA in control animals. This response was inhibited by prednisolone treatment and only returned 18 h after withdrawal. Prednisolone treatment reduced POMC mRNA below the levels detected in untreated animals, with no detectable response to stress.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Stress responsiveness of hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing factor and pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin mRNAs following high-dose glucocorticoid treatment and withdrawal in the rat. 228 Feb 10

In-situ hybridization histochemistry was used to measure corticotrophin-releasing factor mRNA and proenkephalin A mRNA in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA in the anterior pituitary of the rat. Levels of message were determined at 1, 2, 4 and 8 h after exposure to a variety of physical and psychological stresses. Corticotrophin-releasing factor mRNA in the PVN and POMC mRNA in the anterior pituitary increased in response to i.p. hypertonic saline, restraint and swim stress but not to cold stress. Proenkephalin A mRNA was raised only in response to the physical stress of i.p. injection of hypertonic saline. These results suggest that different afferent pathways and hypothalamic neurotransmitters may be involved in mediating the hypothalamic response to different physical and psychological stresses.
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PMID:Responses of hypothalamic and pituitary mRNA to physical and psychological stress in the rat. 280 78

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

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients without neurological disorder was analyzed after Sep-Pak extraction for beta-endorphin (beta-EP)-immunoreactive components by combined reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and radioimmunoassay. A C-terminal directed antibody detected one major immunoreactive component, probably identical with beta-EP1-31. An N-terminal directed antibody detected several immunoreactive components. One co-eluted with beta-EP1-31 but the others are probably C-terminal truncated or otherwise modified forms of beta-EP1-31. However, they eluted differently from beta-EP1-16 (alpha-endorphin), beta-EP1-26, 1-27 and alpha,N-acetyl-beta-EP1-31. Alternatively, some of the fragments may represent C-terminal extended forms of pro-enkephalin A-derived Met-enkephalin. A Met-enkephalin antiserum detected several immunoreactive components probably representing N-terminal extended forms; neither of them were identical with the beta-EP-immunoreactive components. The results illustrate the heterogeneity of the beta-EP-immunoreactive components in CSF and the need to characterize the beta-EP radioimmunoassay before its application to biological extracts.
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PMID:Beta-endorphin-immunoreactive components in human cerebrospinal fluid. 295 70

Ethanol administration has been shown to affect beta-endorphin (beta-E) levels in most brain areas. Chronic ethanol treatment has also lead to changes in the levels of Met- and Leu-enkephalin which may be due to recent finding that enkephalin A activity is significantly altered. To determine if proteolytic enzymes responsible for beta-E metabolism at the pSPM are also altered, we studied the effect of chronic ethanol (7% v/v; 8 days) administration on in vitro central beta-E metabolism in male C57/BL mice. Purified SPM was time-course incubated with beta-E (20 microM) for 30-120 min and subjected to HPLC analyses for determination of beta-endorphin and related fragments. Chronic ethanol significantly reduced the half-life for beta-E at the pSPM (T1/2 = 50/min) versus controls (T1/2 = 100.4 min). Chronic ethanol also caused significant accumulation of the behaviorally active alpha- and gamma-type endorphins formed at the pSPM. These results suggest that chronic ethanol treatment leads to an increase in the activity of peptidases responsible for beta-E metabolism at pSPM leading to an increased formation of both alpha- and gamma-type endorphins which may affect alcohol related behaviors.
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PMID:Ethanol treatment alters beta-endorphin metabolism by purified synaptosomal plasma membranes. 295 86

In segments of rabbit ear arteries preincubated with [3H]noradrenaline, Leu-enkephalin, D-Ala2-D-Leu-enkephalin and ethylketocyclazocine concentration dependently reduced the overflow of tritium and the vasoconstriction elicited by field stimulation (120 pulses every 14 min, 1 Hz, 0.3 msec pulse duration). The effects of Leu-enkephalin and ethylketocyclazocine were antagonized by naloxone which, given alone, increased the evoked overflow of tritium at the high concentration of 10 microM. Morphine failed to produce inhibition, and at 100 microM actually increased evoked 3H-overflow. Continued exposure to Leu-enkephalin desensitized the tissue to this opioid; there was no cross-desensitization to ethylketocyclazocine. In arteries not preincubated with [3H]noradrenaline, normorphine, fentanyl and morphiceptin did not change the vasoconstrictor response (5 pulses every min, 5 Hz, 0.3 msec pulse duration). Among various peptide agonists, Leu-enkephalin, D-Ala2-D-Leu-enkephalin and Met-enkephalin were the most potent inhibitors. In a series of peptides with C-terminal extensions of the Met-enkephalin chain, the potency decreased in the order Met-enkephalin greater than Met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu greater than Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe greater than BAM-12P greater than beta-endorphin. In a series of peptides with C-terminal extensions of the Leu-enkephalin chain, the potency decreased in the order Leu-enkephalin greater than dynorphin1-13 greater than dynorphin1-9 greater than alpha-neo-endorphin greater than dynorphin1-8 greater than dynorphin1-6 greater than dynorphin1-17. The delta-selective antagonist ICI 154129 counteracted the effect of Met-enkephalin but not that of dynorphin1-13, whereas naloxone counteracted the effect of either agonist.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Presynaptic opioid receptor subtypes in the rabbit ear artery. 298 15

The parabrachial nucleus (PB) is the major relay for ascending visceral afferent information from the nucleus of the solitary tract to the forebrain. We have recently found that PB in the rat also receives a substantial afferent projection from neurons in the marginal zone of the entire length of the spinal and trigeminal dorsal horn. Immunoreactive perikarya stained with antisera against several neuropeptides--including dynorphin, enkephalins, and substance P--have been identified in the marginal zone. We therefore investigated the chemical specificity of the spinoparabrachial projection by combining fluorescent retrograde tracing with immunofluorescence for substance P, dynorphin A1-17, met-enkephalin, and two enkephalin precursor fragments (proenkephalin 192-203 and peptide E). Following PB injections of fluorescent dyes, about half of the retrogradely labeled neurons in the marginal zone stained with antisera against either dynorphin or enkephalin series peptides. Elution-restaining experiments indicated that the dynorphin- and enkephalin-immunoreactivities were contained within separate populations of marginal zone neurons. We could not identify any substance P-immunoreactive perikarya in the marginal zone, but substance P-immunoreactive fibers were seen in close apposition to retrogradely labeled, opioid-immunoreactive cell bodies and dendrites. These results indicate that the dynorphin- and enkephalin-immunoreactive perikarya in the marginal zone of the dorsal horn represent independent neuronal populations. These opioid-immunoreactive neurons, which are believed to have extensive local collateral connections, are the main source of a long ascending projection to the parabrachial nucleus in the rat. Furthermore, opioid neurons in the marginal zone may receive substance P-immunoreactive primary sensory afferents.
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PMID:Opioid peptide immunoreactivity in spinal and trigeminal dorsal horn neurons projecting to the parabrachial nucleus in the rat. 301 10

In search of early pregnancy factors, we detected by radioimmunoassay the presence of enkephalin in bovine and human corpus luteum. In vitro met-enkephalin release by bovine corpus luteum is about 0.5 to 1 pmole/mg of fresh tissue/24 hrs. The content of the fresh tissue is between 0.7 and 1.9 pmoles per gram of human tissue, and 0.9 pmoles for bovine tissue. Furthermore, we determined the presence of leu-enkephalin and met-enkephalin Arg-Gly-Leu to. The ratios observed confirm a pro-enkephalin A expression in the ovary. Opiates or opioid-like peptides are present in the female genitalia at the time of early embryo development. The roles of these opioid peptides is discussed in term of ovum transport, granulosa cell physiology and early pregnancy factors.
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PMID:[Production of enkephalins by the human and bovine corpus luteum]. 310 27

The immunohistochemical distribution of alpha-melanotropin (alpha-MSH) and Met-enkephalin (Met-ENK) immunoreactivities in the rat duodenum was examined by using immunofluorescence microscopy. Alternately staining of adjacent frozen serial sections with specific antisera directed to alpha-MSH or Met-ENK revealed that within a subpopulation of myenteric plexus perikarya alpha-MSH immunostaining co-exists with that of Met-ENK. Some myenteric plexus nerve fibres also contain both Met-ENK and alpha-MSH immunoreactivity. These findings might indicate that the genes encoding for the precursors of melanotropins (the pro-opiomelanocortin precursor) and enkephalin (the pro-enkephalin precursor) are generated from a common, large and single ancestor gene which remained conserved during evolution in the rat enteric nervous system.
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PMID:Co-existence of the enkephalinergic system and the melanotropinergic system in the rat duodenum shown by immunohistochemistry. 330 79


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