beta-endorphin is a potent analgesic agent.
beta-Endorphin, an opiate-like peptide, has potent antinociceptive properties when it is administered directly into the brain and assayed in the the tail-flick, hot-plate, and writhing tests in mice and in the wet shake test in rats. On a molar basis, beta-endorphin is 18 to 33 times more potent than morphine and its actions are blocked by the specific opiate antagonist, naloxone hydrochloride. The activity of beta-endorphin in vivo is also compared to other peptides that show opiate-like activity in assays in vitro.
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D008083:beta-Lipotropin / Q000494:pharmacology
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008024:Ligands; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010455:Peptides; D009270:Naloxone; D009020:Morphine; D008083:beta-Lipotropin