Schäfer M K, Martin R
Department of Anatomy, University of Mainz, Germany.
Biol Chem Hoppe Seyler. 1994 Nov;375(11):737-40.
Endogenous opioid peptides derived from all three opioid precursors have been isolated from the pituitary of mammalian species. While beta-endorphin of the anterior lobe was soon shown to be secreted into the circulation as a hormone, the dynorphins and the enkephalins were found to occur in relative small quantities too low for export and effects in the periphery. With respect to the prodynorphin family in the neural lobe convincing evidence has been accumulated for a role of dynorphin A(1-8) in the local control of the release of the hormone oxytocin. The function of the enkephalins in the anterior and neural lobes, in spite of many efforts with in situ hybridization, immunocytochemistry, receptor autoradiography and receptor binding and bioassays, is still elusive. Research should be directed into the role of enkephalins in different physiological states, developmental stages and in non-mammalian vertebrate species.
从所有三种阿片肽前体衍生而来的内源性阿片肽已从哺乳动物的垂体中分离出来。虽然很快就发现前叶的β-内啡肽作为一种激素分泌到循环中，但强啡肽和脑啡肽的含量相对较少，低到无法输出并在外周产生作用。关于神经叶中的前强啡肽家族，已有确凿证据表明强啡肽A(1-8)在局部控制激素催产素的释放中发挥作用。尽管通过原位杂交、免疫细胞化学、受体放射自显影、受体结合和生物测定等方法进行了大量研究，但脑啡肽在前叶和神经叶中的功能仍然难以捉摸。研究应针对脑啡肽在不同生理状态、发育阶段以及非哺乳动物脊椎动物物种中的作用。
