title: Involvement of a serotonergic control in the regulation of plasma levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin.
abstract: Beta-endorphin immunoreactivity was measured in plasma and hypothalamus of rats treated with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alpha -MT) (two doses of 200 mg/kg) or p-chloro-phenyl-alanine (PCPA) (two doses of 150 mg/kg). It was also measured in plasma after a single dose (5 mg/kg) of amphetamine or after electrical stimulation of median raphe nucleus (MRN). Plasma levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin (ir B-E) were significantly decreased by PCPA and were elevated by electrical stimulation of MRN. Alpha -MT was ineffective to modify ir B-E plasma concentration as well as amphetamine. These findings suggest a role for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the regulation of plasma B-E content.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Cancela
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fulginiti
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Ramírez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008781:Methyltyrosines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019805:alpha-Methyltyrosine; D001615:beta-Endorphin
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D004723:Endorphins; D008781:Methyltyrosines; D012701:Serotonin; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D019805:alpha-Methyltyrosine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D010134:Fenclonine