title: Release of immunoreactive beta-endorphin in vitro from pituitaries of young and old male rats.
abstract: The release of immunoreactive beta-endorphin (IR-BE) in vitro from the anterior pituitary (AP) and the neurointermediate lobe of the pituitary (NIL) from old male rats was significantly greater than from the AP and NIL from young male rats. In addition, the content and concentration of IR-BE in the AP and NIL was significantly greater in old than in young male rats, as was the concentration of IR-BE in the plasma. Chromatographic analysis revealed that in old male rats, the increase in IR-BE contained in and released by the AP and NIL, and found in the plasma, represented an increase in a peptide which coeluted with beta-endorphin rather than beta-lipotropin. These data suggest that both the AP and the NIL contribute to the elevation in plasma levels of IR-BE observed in old male rats, and that the increase in pituitary and plasma IR-BE in old male rats represents an increase in beta-endorphin.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marquis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D001615:beta-Endorphin
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D001615:beta-Endorphin