PlumX Metrics
Embed PlumX Metrics

β-endorphin in brain limbic structures as neurochemical correlate of psychic dependence on drugs

Life Sciences, ISSN: 0024-3205, Vol: 44, Issue: 16, Page: 1133-1140
1989
  • 61
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 3
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

Article Description

The significance of β-endorphin for drug dependence was explored by measuring the levels of β-endorphin-immunoreactivity (βE-IR) in plasma and parts of pituitary and brain of rats self-administering heroin or cocaine as compared to animals offered saline. Rats that had intravenously self-administrated heroin for 5 consecutive daily sessions of 6 h, and were decapitated immediately after the last session, showed a decreased concentration of βE-IR in the anterior lobe (AL) of the pituitary while rats that had taken cocaine showed a decreased concentration of βE-IR in the septum. Rats that had self-administered heroin or cocaine and were decapitated 18 h after the last session, showed an increased concentration of βE-IR in plasma and decreased concentrations in the AL of the pituitary and in specific areas of the brain limbic system, i.e. nucleus accumbens, septum, hippocampus and rostral striatum. The finding that self-administration of both the opiate heroin, including psychic and physical dependence, and the non-opiate cocaine, including psychic but not physical dependence, is accompanied by similar changes in βE-IR concentrations particularly in limbic brain structures, and that these effects are present 18 h but not immediately after the last session, suggests that βE and related peptides in limbic brain regions may represent a neurochemical correlate for psychic dependence on drugs.

Provide Feedback

Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know