Although exogenous administration of beta-endorphin to the arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus (ARC) had been shown to produce antinociception, the role of endogenous beta-endorphin of the ARC in nociceptive processing has not been studied directly. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of endogenous beta-endorphin in the ARC on nociception in rats with carrageenan-induced infl...

β-Endorphin plays a major role in the amelioration of insulin resistance. The present study documents that myricetin (3,5,7,3', 4', 5'-hexahydroxyflavone) ameliorates insulin resistance by enhancing β-endorphin production in insulin-resistant rats. The rats were induced for insulin resistance by feeding them a diet containing 60% fructose for 6 weeks. The degree of insulin resistance was measur...

The classical analgesic pathway of opioids by binding their receptors in the nervous system is well known. However, little is known regarding opioid analgesia through the anti-inflammatory pathway. The present study aimed to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of β-endorphin on inflammatory pain. A rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was generated by intradermal inj...

Five peptides derived from pro-corticotropin/endorphin (pro-ACTH/endorphin), the pituitary corticotroph cell prohormone, were bioassayed with isolated rat adrenocortical cells: alpha- and beta-melanotropin, beta-lipotropin, beta-endorphin, and the amino-terminal region of pro-ACTH/endorphin known as "16k fragment." The effect of each on steroidogenesis was measured at potentially physiological ...

We hypothesized that, in the airway mucosa, opioids are inhibitory neural modulators that cause an increase in net water absorption in the airway mucosa (as in the gut). Changes in bidirectional water fluxes across ovine tracheal mucosa in response to basolateral application of the opioid peptides beta-endorphin, dynorphin A-(1-8), and [d-Ala(2), d-Leu(5)]-enkephalin (DADLE) were measured. beta...

BACKGROUND Since transport evokes physiological adjustments that include endocrine responses, the objective of this study was to examine the responses of circulating beta-endorphin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels to transport stress in stallions. METHODS Forty-two healthy Thoroughbred and crossbred stallions were studied before and after road transport over distances ...

OBJECTIVE alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), beta-endorphin and other pro-opiomelanocortin-(POMC) derived peptides have been detected in the heart, but it is uncertain whether they are synthesized by cardiomyocytes or by cardiac nerves innervating the heart. The objective of this study was to determine whether POMC peptides are synthesized by cardiomyocytes. METHODS Pro-opiomel...

The term 'endorphin' (a combination of endogenous-morphine) is used to designate the entire group of peptides found in the brain and pituitary that mimic the biological properties of opiates. 'Endogenous opioid peptides', 'endogenous opioids' 'opioid peptide' and 'endopioids' can be considered as synonymous. Since the identification of stereospecific opiate receptors2J and the pentapeptides met...

Recent discoveries established that activation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors (GLP-1Rs) mediates neuroprotection and antinociception through microglial b-endorphin expression. This study aimed to explore the underlying signaling mechanisms of microglial b-endorphin. GLP-1Rs and b-endorphin were coexpressed in primary cultures of microglia. Treatment with the GLP-1R agonist exenatide conce...

Naltrexone and acamprosate are the most effective drugs in reducing alcohol consumption, operating through different pharmacological mechanisms. Some studies have demonstrated that naltrexone and acamprosate in combination have significantly greater effectiveness in alcohol therapy than either agent used alone. We have previously found that beta-endorphin plasma levels are increased after repea...