Using a specific radioimmunoassay, we have found that immunoreactive (ir) a-neo-endorphin has a widespread and unique distribution in the rat brain and spinal cord. The highest concentration in brain is in the substantia nigra (1692.1 fmol/mg of protein). Very high concentrations of ir-a-neoedorphin (X00 fmol/mg of protein) are also found in the lateral preoptic nucleus, dentate gyrus, parabrac...

BACKGROUND Rhodiola rosea (Rhodiola) is a plant in the Crassulaceae family that grows in cold regions of the world. It is mainly used in clinics as an adaptogen. Recently, it has been mentioned that Rhodiola increases plasma β-endorphin to lower blood pressure. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the antidiabetic action of Rhodiola in relation to opioids in streptozotocin-induced diabet...

Genistein is a plant-derived estrogenic isoflavone commonly found in soy-based products such as soymilk and soy-based dietary supplements for treating menopausal symptoms, for example. Vasopressin is a neurosecretory nonapeptide synthesized primarily in neurons of the hypothalamus and secreted into the bloodstream from the posterior lobe of the pituitary. The endogenous opiate peptide beta-endo...

OBJECTIVE It has been reported that neuropeptides may play a role in the control of appetite and in the mechanism of hormone release. Neuropeptides such as beta-endorphin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), galanin and leptin may affect hormones release, on the other hand the hormonal status may modulate neuropeptide activity. METHODS The material consisted of 90 obese women, 30 women with Anorexia Nervos...

OBJECTIVE Some neuropeptides and monoaminergic neurotransmitters may affect hypothalamic feeding centres, sympathetic activity and thermogenesis. Sibutramine (BTS54524; N-[1-[1(4-chloro phenyl) cyclobutyl]-3methyl N,N-dimethylamine hydrochloride monohydrate) is a new 5-HT serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), antiobesity drug. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects o...

BACKGROUND After delivery, many women experience symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD), and early identification of women at risk is therefore important. The opioid peptide beta-endorphin has been implicated in non-puerperal depression but its role in the development of PPD is unknown. METHODS Three hundred and seven women with a singleton, full-term (>37.0 weeks' GA) pregnancy were recruit...

Immunohistochemical analyses of the lizard-brain, following colchicine pretreatment, revealed two populations of POMC-producing cell bodies located in medial-basal hypothalamus and the mesencephalic tegmentum. Analyses of extracts of lizard brain regions by radioimmunoassay and gel filtration chromatography indicate that beta-endorphin-sized and alpha-MSH-sized peptides are the major POMC-relat...

Background Lithium is widely used to treat bipolar disorders and displays mood stabilizing properties. In addition, lithium relieves painful cluster headaches and has a strong analgesic effect in neuropathic pain rat models. Objectives To investigate the analgesic effect of lithium on the cuff model of neuropathic pain. Methods We used behavioral and pharmacological approaches to study the anal...

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) is glycosylated and proteolytically cleaved to produce a number of smaller peptide hormones including adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and endorphin in mammalian pituitary and the mouse pituitary cell Line AtT-20/DI6,. When glycosylation of POMC is inhibited in AtT-20 cells with the drug tunicamycin, a 26,000-dalton protein appears in place of the glycosylated 29,0...