title: Characterization of beta-endorphin peptides in the spinal cord of the rat.
abstract: The objective of the present studies was to estimate the total content of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta-EPLIR) and to characterize the beta-endorphin-like peptides in distinct regions of the spinal cord using gel filtration and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. The concentration of beta-EPLIR expressed as pg per mg tissue was similar in the four regions of the spinal cord. Sephadex G-75 chromatography demonstrated the presence, in all four regions of the spinal cord, of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) immunoreactive peptides eluting at the positions of standard beta-EP and beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) peptides as well as a high molecular weight form eluting prior to beta-LPH. High performance liquid chromatography of the beta-EP-sized peptides indicated some differences in the relative proportions of the various beta-EP-sized peptides among the four regions of the spinal cord, which suggest a different origin of the beta-EP fibers terminating in different regions of the spinal cord as well as different physiological importance of the beta-endorphin peptides in the various spinal cord regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Verdun, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gianoulakis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Angelogianni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000032:analysis*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D001615:beta-Endorphin