De Marinis L, Mancini A, D'Amico C, Sambo P, Tofani A, La Brocca A, Barbarino A
Istituto di Endocrinologia, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma.
Minerva Med. 1990 Jan-Feb;81(1-2):5-14.
The aim of the present study is to review current knowledge of the endogenous opiates in order to identify both their basic features and their receptors' properties, including the biological effects of their stimulation, and finally their endocrine actions. Since the identification of methionine-enkephalin and leucin-enkephalin, many opioid peptides with higher molecular weight have been characterized, and their origin from specific precursor has been recognized: proopiomelanocortin, preproenkephalin A, preproenkephalin B. In particular we have analyzed the pharmacological properties and the biological effects of beta-endorphin and met -and leu-enkephalins, the most diffuse of opioids. The use of naloxone has permitted the study of endogenous opioid tone and its effects on the release of the pituitary hormones. The present study reports a summary of data in the literature and personal observation indicating that the peripheral sexual steroids are the most important modulators of naloxone effects on endogenous opioid tone. Finally, the paper reports preliminary observations indicating that during naloxone infusion, females with hypothalamic amenorrhoea show a hormonal profile which differs from normal subjects.
本研究的目的是回顾内源性阿片类物质的现有知识，以便确定其基本特征及其受体的特性，包括其刺激的生物学效应，以及最终其内分泌作用。自甲硫氨酸脑啡肽和亮氨酸脑啡肽被鉴定以来，许多分子量更高的阿片肽已被表征，并且它们源自特定前体这一点已得到认可：阿片促黑皮质素原、前脑啡肽原A、前脑啡肽原B。特别是我们分析了β-内啡肽以及甲硫氨酸和亮氨酸脑啡肽（最广泛分布的阿片类物质）的药理特性和生物学效应。纳洛酮的使用使得对内源性阿片类物质张力及其对垂体激素释放的影响的研究成为可能。本研究报告了文献数据和个人观察结果的总结，表明外周性类固醇是纳洛酮对内源性阿片类物质张力影响的最重要调节因子。最后，该论文报告了初步观察结果，表明在输注纳洛酮期间，下丘脑性闭经的女性显示出与正常受试者不同的激素谱。
