title: Pro-opiocortin fragments in human and rat brain: beta-endorphin and alpha-MSH are the predominant peptides.
abstract: The 'pro-opiocortin' fragments, beta-lipotropin, beta-endorphin, ACTH and alpha-MSH, were estimated in discrete areas of rat and human brain and pituitaries by means of radioimmunoassay in combination with gelfiltration. These peptides exhibited parallel patterns of distribution, but with beta-endorphin and alpha-MSH predominant in the brain of rat and man, and, in contrast, their respective precursors. beta-LPH and ACTH predominant in the adenohypophysis of rat and man. These data may be indicative of important differences in post-translational processing of 'pro-opiocortin' between these contrasting tissues.
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D008083:beta-Lipotropin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D008083:beta-Lipotropin