The basic introduction of endorphins

Endorphin, also known as anendorfin or brain endorphin, is an endogenous (pituitary secretion) of morphine biochemical compounds hormones. It is an aminated amino compound (peptide) secreted by the hypothalamus of the pituitary and vertebrate. It can be combined with morphine receptors, resulting in morphine, opiates, like pain and euphoria. Equal to natural analgesics. The use of drugs can increase the secretion of brain endorphosis.

Endorphins are naturally occurring in the body of a class of endogenous with morphine-like peptide substances. These peptides in addition to analgesic function, still has many other physiological functions, such as regulation of body temperature, cardiovascular, respiratory function. Endorphin A generic term for neuropeptides with morphine-like activity.

The main type of endorphins

Endorphins have α, β, γ, δ four types. Among them, β-endorphin is abundantly present. Enkephalin is an endogenous opioid in two special pentapeptide compounds: leucine and methionine enkephalin, containing active groups similar to morphine. In the isolated synaptic binding assay, enkephalin, alpha-endorphin and gamma-endorphin have the same activity as morphine, whereas the activity of beta-endorphin is 5 to 10 times higher than that of morphine. The analgesic effect of endorphins is only seen in the brain, but has not been confirmed whether the peripheral administration of analgesic activity. Endogenous peptide, opioid receptor and endorphin neurons together constitute the endorphin system.

The development of endorphins

In 1975, brain endorphosis was found by two independent investigators.

John Hughes and Hans Kosterlitz of Scotland first discovered three kinds of brain endorphics of α, β and γ from the head of the pig. When they call it enkephalins.

At the same time, another group of American researchers Rabi Simantov and Solomon H. Snyder in the head of the cattle found in the brain endorphosis. Eric Simon (later found that the human body's morphine receptor) called it brain endorphism, is the endogenous morphine abbreviation. In fact, morphine itself is not a peptide, but recent studies have found that human or animal muscle cells can produce morphine.

It has been found that there are leucine-enkephalin, methionine-enkephalin, alpha-endorphin, beta-endorphin and the like. These peptides in addition to analgesic function, still has many other physiological functions, such as regulation of body temperature, cardiovascular, respiratory function.

Endorphins are one of the endogenous peptides (morphine-like peptides) that can form a morphine-specific binding to the morphine receptors in the brain. Contained in the nerve cells of vertebrates. The β-endorphin extracted from the mammalian brain is larger in molecular weight and consists of 31 amino acid residues. Is thought to participate in nerve conduction with enkephalin. In the invertebrate nerve also exist in the same reaction with immunological substances. In addition, it is possible that endorphins and enkephalins and fatty acid-releasing hormones, paratoreal corticosteroids and melanocytokines have common precursors.

Endorphins are naturally occurring in the body of a class of endogenous with morphine-like peptide substances. Is an endogenous and morphine abbreviation. Endorphins may include alpha-endorphin, beta-endorphin, gamma-endorphin, methionine-enkephalin, leucine-enkephalin, dynorphin A, dynorphin B, etc. Very strong morphine activity. The amino acid sequence of methionine-enkephalin is tyrosine-glycine-glycine-phenylalanine-methionine. The fifth amino acid of leucine-enkephalin is not methionine but leucine. Α, β, γ-endorphins are 11 peptides, 31 peptides, 18 peptides, and their first five amino acid sequences are identical to methionine-enkephalin pentapeptides. These peptides have a strong physiological function. Intraventricular injection of endorphins into the animal's ventricle can cause loss of pain in the body depth, body temperature, behavior becomes stiff. And then applied morphine antagonist naloxone, no longer have the feeling of pain. Endorphin-induced behavior suggests that these peptides may be involved in the regulation of emotional responses.

Endorphins isolated from the pituitary, which represent β-endorphin and analgesic stronger dynorphin. They belong to the endogenous opioid peptides, is the body anti-pain system components, with physiological significance.

When the body has a painful stimulus, endogenous opioid peptides are released to fight the pain. In the heart of the peptidic stimulus, the human body and mind in a relaxed and happy state, the immune system strength can be strengthened, and can successfully dream, eliminate insomnia.

Neipphonia is also known as "pleasure hormones" or "young hormones", meaning that hormones can help people keep young happy state.

The immunological effect of endorphins

In recent years, stress hormones to the immune system as a target has gradually attracted attention. Surgery or trauma, patients often appear immune dysfunction, which may have a certain relationship with endorphins. Shavit et al. Pointed out that leukocyte metabolites can directly stimulate the release of pituitary ACTH and β-endorphin, opioid action on the central nervous system will affect the immune function, which put forward the immune-opioid interaction theory.

Opioid can be combined with monocytes, granulocytes, lymphocytes and complement, and ACTH and opioids are currently detected in lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages and platelets. Leukocyte interferon, although not derived from opioid precursor molecules, is structurally very similar to it and has similar biological effects of opioid peptides or ACTH. In the presence of opioid drugs in the determination of immune function, and in vivo tests, if the injection of opioids or other antagonists can also change the immune process and the results.

Endorphin is sensitive to foreign body antigens, stimulates a series of interlocking responses to neuroendocrine endocrine. In this process opioids also play a role, and even the resulting septic shock. Clinical application of naloxone in clinical clinical septic shock, showing a certain effect.