title: Molecular forms of beta-endorphin in ACTH/LPH hypersecretion syndromes in man.
abstract: beta-Endorphin31, beta-endorphin1-27, and their alpha-N-acetyl derivatives were specifically separated by ion exchange chromatography from human beta-endorphin-'like' material obtained from extracts and culture media of corticotropic adenomas and extract of plasma from Nelson's syndrome and ectopic ACTH/LPH syndrome. Studies with pituitary-derived materials have shown that human beta-endorphin1-31 was the major form and human beta-endorphin1-27 a minor form. No other peptide was detected. In plasma from the ectopic ACTH-LPH syndrome human beta-endorphin1-31 was the only detected peptide. In 2 such patients with chronic elevation of human beta-endorphin1-31 the pain sensitivity threshold was normal and naloxone induced no modification, suggesting that circulatory human beta-endorphin has no effect on the central nervous system.
mesh_terms: D000182:ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic / Q000378:metabolism*; D000236:Adenoma / Q000378:metabolism; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D004723:Endorphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009347:Nelson Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D009384:Paraneoplastic Endocrine Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D008083:beta-Lipotropin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D008083:beta-Lipotropin