Title: Differential binding properties of some opiates and opioid peptides
Abstract: The opioid peptide enkephalins were discovered as endogenous substances in the brain which mimic effects of morphine pharmacologically at presumed receptor sites in smooth muscle systems (Hughes, 1975) and compete for [3H] opiate binding to opiate receptor sites in brain membranes (Terenius and Wahlstrom, 1975; Pasternak et al. 1975a). Accordingly, these opiate receptor sites which bind opiates with high affinity and in proportion to their pharmacological activity (Snyder, 1975) presumably serve physiologically to interact with endogenous opioid peptides. In the brain the quantitatively predominant opioid peptides are the two pentapeptides met and leu-enkephalin while lower concentrations of a 39-amino acid opioid peptide β-endorphin may also presumably interact with opiate receptors. However, since the localization of enkephalin throughout the brain corresponds more closely with that of opiate receptors than does localization of β-endorphin (Simantov et al. 1977; Rossier et al. 1977), it is likely that the majority of opiate receptors in the brain normally interact with enkephalins rather than β-endorphin.
Publication Year: 1979
Publication Date: 1979-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 3
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot