Opioid peptides as neuroregulators: potential areas for the study of genetic-behavioral mechanisms.

The opioid peptides have been related to behavior in both animal and human studies. Further investigation can be anticipated which could lead to the elucidation of genetic controls over enzymes which process these peptides and the receptors upon which the peptides act. The enzymes, both synthetic and degradative, can lead to the formation of different forms of the opiate peptides. Differential control of these enzymes or of the multiple forms of opiate receptors could lead to discrete changes in opiate status and subsequent behavioral changes. Conversely, genetically regulated behavioral modification could also lead secondarily to opiate changes.