Plasma and CSF levels of immunoreactive beta-endorphin in algic peaks of patients with herniated intervertebral discs.
Plasma and CSF levels of beta-Endorphin (beta-End) were measured by radioimmunoassay in three groups of human subjects. The first group consisted of healthy adults, and only plasma beta-End was determined. The second group consisted of patients showing non-painful neurological diseases. The third group consisted of patients suffering from acute pain due to herniated intervertebral discs. In the last two groups, beta-End levels were measured in plasma and CSF. The results showed that plasma levels of beta-End were similar in the first two groups of patients. In contrast, patients with acute pain showed significantly increased levels of beta-End in plasma. CSF levels of beta-End did not show significant differences among the groups. The results suggest that the increase in plasma levels of beta-End was a consequence of the stress produced by acute pain.
Morales
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AB
Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Medicina, Granada, Spain.
Vives
F
F
Ros
I
I
Mora
F
F
D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D010146:Pain / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D001615:beta-Endorphin