An opioid pancreatic peptide produces ileal muscle inhibition and naloxone-reversible analgesia.

The opioid activity of immunoreactive beta-endorphin-like peptide extracted from pork pancreas duplicates the effects of morphine and synthetic beta-endorphin when measured by inhibition of isolated guinea pig ileal muscle response to electro-stimulation in vitro and by morphine-like analgesia following intravenous injection in the mouse. These responses are reversed by the opiate antagonist naloxone, indicating that a potent opioid mu receptor binding ligand is present in pancreatic extract. These findings imply a pancreatic source of plasma immunoreactive beta-endorphin that may explain a number of physiological and behavioral effects generally attributed to hypophyseal beta-endorphin alone.

Endogenous opioid peptides in intrapartum uterine blood.

Endogenous opioid peptides have consistently been reported to exert significant influence on several parameters of reproductive physiology, including tolerance to pain, release of prolactin, pleasurable behavior patterns, and appetite satiety. Immunoreactive endorphins measured in several hundred samples of postpartum uterine blood had a mean value of 190 pg/ml and a range of 60 to 520 pg/ml. Individual values in 100 mothers who were delivered at the Northwest Hospital failed to correlate with doses of postpartum pain medications, infant feeding patterns, and recorded estimates of maternal bonding behavior. Postpartum "blues" may be related to stress-induced depletion of endorphinergic systems.

Immunoreactive endorphin peptides and prolactin in umbilical vein and maternal blood.

Immunoreactive endorphin peptides (ir EP) and prolactin (PRL) were measured by radioimmunoassay in venous blood from the umbilical cord of 86 neonates, 23 postpartum mothers, and 40 randomly selected blood bank donor control subjects. We also assayed these hormones in serosanguineous placental tissue fluid following delivery. The data suggest both ir EP and PRL are elevated during both processes and that placental chemistry may be implicated in blood levels of these hormones. Some biological and clinical aspects of placental opiates are discussed.

Pancreatic beta-endorphin-like polypeptides.

Acid extracts of porcine pancreas acetone powders (but not of other tissues) have been shown to contain material which will react firstly in a radioimmunoassay for beta-endorphin, and secondly, compete with 3H-Naloxone and 3H-enkephalinamide in the radio-receptor assay. This material had a molecular weight of approximately 7,000 as judged by both P-10 and G-50 exclusion chromatography, even in the presence of 4 M urea. The G-50 partially purified and desalted fraction demonstrated a dose-dependent analgesia in mice and also influenced mouse behavior in vivo in a manner analogous to that produced by synthetic human beta-endorphin.

Protocol for intravenous barbiturate therapy in increased intracranial pressure in a community hospital.

A barbiturate protocol for control of raised intracranial pressure is presented in detail. Since the nursing staff may be responsible for maintaining cerebral perfusion and normal ICP with barbiturates, mannitol, fluids, and pressor agents, it was thought that a detailed description such as presented might be useful. We have shown that complex management protocols can easily be managed, even in smaller, non-university community hospitals. The present state of brain injury management by barbiturates, guided by ICP monitoring, even at this early stage of development, seems to show promise as the latest adjunct in the care of this difficult problem.

Do endorphin residues of beta lipotropin in hormone reinforce reproductive functions?

The beta-endorphin residue of pituitary beta-lipotropin hormone, which regulates utilization and storage of body fat, is several times more potent than morphine in raising pain tolerance. It also produces habituation and dependency behavior. Recently it was found to be present in amniotic fluid and to be a releaser of prolactin. It now appears that the placenta is a rich source of endorphins. These findings may open a new chapter in understanding molecular determinants of behavior patterns responsible for natural selection and survival of vertebrate species. Clinical application of basic information and new concepts relating endorphins to maternal behavior patterns and neonatal physiology is the purpose of this communication. A brief review of the literature, some data from [3H]opiate-binding assays, observation of maternal performance, and reports of maternity patients' feelings and motivations suggesting that these hormone molecules mediate formation of affectional attitude, appetitive systems, and maternal behavior will be presented.