Beta-Endorphin and Biosynthetically Related Peptides in the Central Nervous System

Evolution of POMC: origin, phylogeny, posttranslational processing, and the melanocortins

“…The production of α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (α‐MSH) in the intermediate pituitary is essential for vertebrates that use physiological color change mechanisms, as, for example, some amphibians and reptiles 73 . The production of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, β‐endorphin, by a subset of POMC neurons in the arcuate nucleus can play a role in pain modulation 74 . In addition, the action of α‐MSH released by a subset of POMC neurons at synapses in the appetite regulating center in the hypothalamus is critically important for regulating feeding behavior 65 …”

“…73 The production of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, ␤endorphin, by a subset of POMC neurons in the arcuate nucleus can play a role in pain modulation. 74 In addition, the action of ␣-MSH released by a subset of POMC neurons at synapses in the appetite regulating center in the hypothalamus is critically important for regulating feeding behavior. 65 Following the endoproteolytic cleavage events described in the preceding paragraphs, some POMC end-products can undergo further posttranslational modifications in regulated secretory granules.…”

Strategies for studying opioid peptide regulation at the gene, message and protein levels

“…End products of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) system are synthesized in corticotropic cells of the anterior pituitary, melanotropic cells of the intermediate pituitary [11,18], distinct neurons in the arcuate nucleus [2], and a subset of neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius [31]. The network of POMC neurons in the brain is depicted in Fig.…”

“…Weber et a/. [54] have reported that the molar ratio of dynorphin (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17) to dynorphin(1-8) varies in different regions of the brain. In support of these observations, we have looked at just two terminal field regions in the pro-dyn system, the posterior pituitary and the substantia nigra, and found that the molar ratio of dynorphin(l-17) to dynorphin(l-8) in the former terminal field is 1:2 while in the latter terminal field the ratio is 1:35 ]17].…”

A Role for the Endogenous Opioid Peptides in the Regulation of Gonadotropin Secretion in the Primate

“…By far the major area of POMCE-derived peptides syn thesis within the central nervous system cen ters around the arcuate nucleus, from which these compounds are then distributed over large brain areas [10]. Within the arcuate nucleus, neurons containing P-endorphin are intermingled with GnRH cells ( fig.…”