title: Intracerebroventricular administration of beta-endorphin releases immunoreactive met-enkephalin from the spinal cord in cats, guinea pigs and mice.
abstract: It has previously been reported that beta-endorphin, given intraventricularly, releases methionine-enkephalin from the spinal cord in rats. The present studies sought to determine whether beta-endorphin, given supraspinally, also released immunoreactive met-enkephalin from the spinal cord in cats, guinea pigs and mice. Intracerebroventricular injection of beta-endorphin caused a dose-dependent increase of the release of immunoreactive met-enkephalin from the spinal cord in these animals. The results support the hypothesis that the pharmacological actions produced by beta-endorphin are mediated by the release of met-enkephalin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Tseng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010477:Perfusion; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D001615:beta-Endorphin