Effect of opioid peptides on gonadotrophin secretion

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Abstract
The intraventricular injection of 25 .mu.g of methionine-enkephalin (Met-Enk) induces a significant increase of serum LH [lutropin] levels in long-term ovariectomized rats 15, 30 and 60 min following administration. The synthetic Met-Enk agonistic analog [D-Ala2]Methionine-Enkephalinamide ([D-Ala2]Met-Enk) also significantly enhances serum LH levels at 30 and 60 min; under the same experimental conditions neither Met-Enk nor [D-Ala2]Met-Enk modifies serum levels of FSH following intraventricular injections into ovariectomized animals. Under particular circumstances, opioid peptides of the Met-Enk family may stimulate LH release.