Hormonal proteins and peptides Vol. 10. β-endorphin. Li C. H. (ed.), Academic Press, Inc., New york (1981), 359 pp.

Proteins and Peprides. VCII. 10. /j-Endorphln

tlormonal This

IS probably the most recent book on P-cndorphm.

it covers the subject an A critlc;tl,

comprehensive

cularl!-orientated

I starts with

wa!. (‘hapter

ation 01‘ analogues or thr

natural

discover structure-activity

relationships;

the action of tissue

proteinases

tin.

is

of the prohormones.

detailed as ncll

compound

30 aminoacids

taining

and proteins.

lipids

with both alkaloids

/&lipoprotein.

Nat.

the

such as pro-opio-melanocor-

proteins.

the ‘signal’ peptides the ‘signal’ consist-

off the molecule

in the CNS

~ng doses man) effects arc reversed. and hccause the basic

follows

receptor

to be a complex

structure

21

It ih

next chapter illustrates

as visualiazd

in contrast

to the ares&

mdividual

in

the discussion

of the relation

ol’ !i-cndorphin

and

mental disease and between endogenous opioids

and pain

in man are of special interest.

to which

They

are qu&ons

,111ans\\cr IS most desirable but not yet a\.iilable. C‘onti-adlctory results cffcct shown

is the sxcep-

for

whom naloxonc treatment may occasional!:, be life-saving.

and

and peptides. /Grndorphin

he dtyisive

\vhom endogenous opioids are probably clr-adating. and m

COW

nble to react

subject ma!

of the subject is the lack of changes produced by nnlox~nc

Finally,

and

and is therefore

receptor complex. The

01

the picture is confusing becnuaf. with Increas-

in the unstressed

ELI-

tional substance capable of binding to both sites withm the tribution

/Cendorphin:

The best known example of the I-ale of the state

membranes or both vertebrates

is assumctl

the great

of the experimental

of its secretion. There

invertebrates.

;I long section deahng \rlth

number of l’unctional changes seen after administration

the result.

of what IS known of the opioid

localired on neuron4

I‘here follouh

t !3bI i 359pp

which generate the active

starting

essential for the initiation description

m ~-~rder to

tr!.

\I ark

condition

cleotide sequences. A table dlustrates ing of I5

the examin-

;15 that of the corresponding

of ;I dozen different secretor!

;mtl

and mole-

Inc.. NW

it then deals with

pcptides from the large precursor structure

1.1 C tl. (Ed.). Academic Press.

/j-cndorphin

on patients XC the rule. and the only clesr appears to he the pawn rcl!ei administered

intratheczll)

larger doses than those hitherto

ohtained

It I> posslhlc

av:iilahlc

by that

would also hc

effective given intravenousI!.

opiold dls-

bv immunohlstochemis-

M

\‘IH;I