Stress and endogenous opioids: behavioral and circulatory interactions.
Endogenous opioid peptides are the basis of a diverse system of complex neuroregulatory and endocrine mechanisms. While relatively quiescent in the resting state, these peptides are released during intense stimulation and modify, in a number of ways, circulatory homeostatic mechanisms. The endogenous opioids, primarily via endorphins and enkephalins, are capable of influencing circulatory responses to stress at the behavioral, the endocrinological, and the neural level. Recent research in humans and animals has described several roles for opioids in regulation of the circulatory stress response, and has also provided clues about the significance of opioid dysregulation in the pathophysiology of stress. Increased understanding of the basic mechanisms of stress and endogenous opioids will clarify the potential roles of opioids in important pharmacologic and behaviorally based therapeutics.
Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington 40536-0086.
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McCubbin
D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D004723:Endorphins / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology
D004723:Endorphins; D011957:Receptors, Opioid