title: Menopausal syndrome: plasma levels of beta-endorphin in post-menopausal women measured by a specific radioimmunoassay.
abstract: beta-Endorphin (beta-EP) levels were measured in 13 post-menopausal women (7 surgical, 6 physiological) using a new highly specific and accurate radioimmunoassay, and were found to be significantly lower than among 10 normally menstruating controls (48.6 +/- 13.8 pg/ml vs. 70.0 +/- 18 pg/ml, P less than 0.005). beta-EP levels were measured prior to and 5 days after surgery in 3 of the oophorectomized women, and were found to have decreased by an average of 41%. beta-EP levels were measured immediately after hot flashes experienced by 4 of the post-menopausal women during regular clinic visits, and were found to be significantly elevated above baseline levels (P less than 0.02). Our data confirmed the findings of Genazzani et al. [10], a significant lowering of beta-EP at menopause. Also, the data from the small number of beta-EP plasma levels we studied during hot flashes, suggests a possible role of beta-EP either directly or indirectly on the genesis of hot flashes.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002979:Climacteric; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013577:Syndrome; D001615:beta-Endorphin
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D001615:beta-Endorphin