How neuropeptides in the primate spinal cord regulate itch and pain is largely unknown. Here we elucidate the sensory functions of spinal opioid-related peptides and gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) in awake, behaving monkeys. Following intrathecal administration, β-endorphin (10-100 nmol) and GRP (1-10 nmol) dose-dependently elicit the same degree of robust itch scratching, which can be inhibit...

UV light is an established carcinogen, yet evidence suggests that UV-seeking behavior has addictive features. Following UV exposure, epidermal keratinocytes synthesize proopiomelanocortin (POMC) that is processed to melanocyte-stimulating hormone, inducing tanning. We show that, in rodents, another POMC-derived peptide, β-endorphin, is coordinately synthesized in skin, elevating plasma levels a...

This raises the possibility that the processing mechanisms may differ in different tissues. Since bovine /.-endorphin appears to have the same primary structure as rat /.-endorphin (Rubinstein et al., 1977; Li et al., 1977), it is anticipated that the four peptides isolated from ox pituitary, described here, will prove valuable as ‘marker’ peptides in studies on the distribution of /.-endorphin...

Steroid hormones are known to affect synthesis and/or release of some peptides in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues. In the present study we determined changes in beta-endorphin, GnRH and galanin contents in uterine and oviductal tissues of ovariectomized (OVX) gilts following treatment with estradiol benzoate (EB) at a dose inducing a preovulatory-like LH surge. Seven month old...

OBJECTIVE Pain medicine still lacks mechanism-specific biomarkers to guide diagnosis and treatment, and defective top-down modulation is an important factor in the pathophysiology of chronic pain conditions. Using modern analytical tools and advanced multivariate statistical analysis, the aim of this study was to revisit two classical potential biomarkers of pro- and anti-nociception in humans ...

We have previously demonstrated low levels of immunoreactive (ir)-beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and ir-ACTH in a subpopulation of mouse spleen macrophages, which is consistent with an involvement of opioid peptides in modulation of immune responses. Gel chromatography studies suggested the presence of an approximately 3.5,000-molecular weight (mol wt) species, putatively beta-EP, an approximately 11...