title: Ontogeny of beta-endorphin and cortisol in the plasma of children and adolescents.
abstract: The ontogeny of plasma beta-endorphin (B-E) and cortisol concentrations was studied in normal children (3-11 yr old) and adolescents (12-18 yr old) of several ethnic backgrounds. The morning plasma concentrations did not significantly differ as a function of sex or age for either B-E [males (n = 88), 7.19 +/- 0.39 (+/- SE) pmol/L; females (n = 73), 6.80 +/- 0.50 pmol/L] or cortisol [males (n = 87), 383 +/- 14 nmol/L; females (n = 69), 359 +/- 20 nmol/L]. There was a small but significant positive correlation between plasma B-E and cortisol concentrations. When sampled immediately after venipuncture, there were no significant differences in the plasma B-E or cortisol concentrations of children who cried during venipuncture compared with those who did not. These data suggest that morning plasma B-E and cortisol concentrations are constant throughout childhood, adolescence, and into early adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Brain Research Center, Children's Hospital National Medical Center, Washington, D.C. 20010.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arthur-Smith
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hammock
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Josephs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D044469:Racial Groups; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin; D006854:Hydrocortisone