title: Expression of beta-endorphin and its receptors in the spinal cord of obese-diabetic ob/ob mice.
abstract: Immunocytochemistry was used to demonstrate the presence of beta-endorphin, and quantitative autoradiography with [125I]beta-endorphin was used to study beta-endorphin binding sites, in spinal cord of lean and obese diabetic ob/ob mice. The proportion of beta-endorphin-positive neurones was approximately 6-fold higher in the ventral horn, and 2-fold higher in the dorsal horn of ob/ob mice than in lean controls. The maximum density of beta-endorphin binding sites was significantly higher in the dorsal horn and intermediate zone of ob/ob mice. The Kd value for the binding was similar in the ventral horn and intermediate zone in lean and ob/ob mice, but slightly lower in the dorsal horn of ob/ob mice. The findings indicate upregulation of both beta-endorphin and its receptors in spinal neurones of ob/ob mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bailey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008820:Mice, Obese; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D001615:beta-Endorphin