Abstract
Recently, we reported that adrenaline can stimulate the secretion of immunoreactive β-endorphin in the rat1. This response is mediated by β-adrenoceptors and requires circulating adrenaline concentrations which are known to occur during stress1–3. We therefore studied whether catecholamines are implicated in the stress-induced secretion of immunoreactive β-endorphin from the pituitary gland. We report here that in rat the β-adrenoceptor antagonist (−)propranolol reduces or abolishes the rapid increase of immunoreactive β-endorphin levels during some stress stimuli (footshock, passive avoidance, restraint) but not during others (ether, formalin, laparotomy). The propranolol-sensitive response is largely prevented by extirpation of the neurointermediate lobe of the pituitary gland but is unaffected by dexamethasone, which inhibits peptide secretion from the corticotroph cells of the anterior lobe. These results suggest that catecholamines activate the release of immunoreactive β-endorphin from the intermediate lobe but not from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland during certain stress conditions.
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Berkenbosch, F., Tilders, F. & Vermes, I. β-Adrenoceptor activation mediates stress-induced secretion of β-endorphin-related peptides from intermediate but not anterior pituitary. Nature 305, 237–239 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/305237a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/305237a0
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