title: Plasma beta-endorphin level in cases of luteal phase defect.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate beta-endorphin secretion in euprolactinemic cases of luteal phase defect (LPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial blood samples from the 18th to the 26th day of the menstrual cycle were assayed for beta-endorphin, progesterone (P), estradiol (E2), and prolactin (PRL) in cases of LPD and controls. Diagnosis of LPD was based on determinations of serum P and premenstrual endometrial biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  From Cairo University Hospitals. PATIENT, PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-six women with LPD and 8 normal fertile women (controls) were chosen.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  beta-Endorphin, P, E2, and PRL concentrations were determined by the corresponding 125I radioimmunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma beta-endorphin level in cases of LPD varied from 2.58 to 9.14 pmol/L, whereas the level of controls varied from 2.41 to 5.57 pmol/L. The mean value of plasma beta-endorphin in cases of LPD was significantly higher than that of controls by 146% (P less than 0.0005). In spite of the significant decrease of serum P in cases of LPD, serum E2 level did not differ significantly from that of controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The possible sources of beta-endorphin rise and its implication in the etiology of LPD are explained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaarawy
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Shaaban
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Eid
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abdel-Aziz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011388:Prolactin