Pharmacological approaches have defined the epsilon receptor as a beta-endorphin-preferring opioid receptor, described in rat vas deferens and in brain of several species. Only three opioid receptors-mu, delta and kappa-have been cloned and the existence of this additional subtype as a distinct protein remains controversial. Recently, the mouse brain epsilon receptor was detected in a G protein...

Previously, we demonstrated that electroacupuncture (EA) decreased lymphocyte infiltration into the spinal cords of rats presenting with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a disease model used in the study of multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of EA on the EAE. Female Lewis rats were divided into either CFA, EAE, EA, or injection with na...

AIM To investigate the effects of training sessions on circulating β-endorphin changes in sport horses before and after competition and to ascertain whether competition would affect this response. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 24 trained jumping horses were randomly assigned to one of two training groups: Group A (competing) and Group B (not competing). To determined plasma β-endorphin con...

BACKGROUND Stimulation of the antinociceptive system by noninvasive electrical current from electrodes placed on the head is a renewed method of pain relief. METHODS We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on 20 chronic back pain patients. They were treated with either transcranial electrostimulation (TCES) or an active placebo device. Pain level and serum beta-endor...

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the hypothalamus are direct targets of peripheral satiety signals, such as leptin and insulin in mammals. The stimulation of these signals activates hypothalamic POMC neurons and elevates POMC-derived melanocortin peptides that inhibit food intake in mammals. On the other hand, it has been recognized that beta-endorphin, a post-translational processing of ...

In the present study, we demonstrated that repeated treatment with fentanyl, but not morphine or oxycodone, causes a rapid desensitization to its ability to block the hyperalgesia associated with the attenuation of mu-opioid receptor resensitization in mice in a chronic pain-like state. In contrast, no such effect was noted in beta-endorphin knockout mice under the chronic pain-like conditions....

This paper argues that parent-offspring conflict is mediated by placental beta-endorphins in placental mammals, i.e., foetuses make their mothers endorphin-dependent then manipulate them to increase nutrient allocation to the placenta. This hypothesis predicts that: (1) anatomic position of endorphin production should mirror its presumed role in fetal-maternal conflict; (2) endorphin levels sho...

BACKGROUND The study aimed to investigate the analgesic effect of a combination of intravenous flurbiprofen axetil and opioids, and evaluate the relationship between refractory pain relief and plasma β-endorphin levels in cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 120 cancer patients was randomly divided into two groups, 60 patients took orally morphine sulfate sustained-release tablet...

1. This study was designed to evaluate variations in plasma beta-endorphin, methionine-enkephalin, adrenocorticotropic hormone and serum prolactin in healthy volunteers during head-out water immersion. 2. Water immersion induced an increase in methionine-enkephalin plasma levels, which was associated with a significant fall in mean arterial pressure and heart rate. 3. Conversely, a suppression ...