Dexamethasone fails to suppress beta-endorphin plasma concentrations in humans and rhesus monkeys.
In humans and rhesus monkeys, dexamethasone decreased concentrations of plasma cortisol but did not alter circulating beta-endorphin immunoreactivity. Contrary to current theory suggesting that pituitary beta-endorphin and adrenocorticotropic hormone are controlled by identical regulatory mechanisms for synthesis and release, our evidence suggests that in higher primates the established glucocorticoid feedback mechanism for the adrenocorticotropic hormone-cortisol system does not regulate beta-endorphin secretion in the same way.
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood
D004723:Endorphins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone