THE EFFECTS OF A MET‐ENKEPHALIN ANALOGUE ON ACTH, β‐LPH, β‐ENDORPHIN AND MET‐ENKEPHALIN IN PATIENTS WITH ADRENOCORTICAL DISEASE

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Thirteen patients with either Addison's disease, or Cushing's disease treated by bilateral adrenalectomy, were infused with the long-acting met-enkephalin analogue DAMME. In patients with Addison's disease significant and pronounced falls in ACTH and N- and C-terminal β-LPH were seen; chromatography suggested that β-endorphin fell concomitantly. Three out of four patients with Cushing's disease who had not received pituitary irradiation, also showed a decrease in plasma ACTH and N- and C-terminal β-LPH; however, no change was seen in any of the irradiated patients. The changes were naloxone reversible. The levels of plasma met-enkephalin were normal and did not change after DAMME in any group of patients. These results are interpreted as suggesting that there are inhibitory opiate receptors controlling the release of ACTH, β-LPH, and β-endorphin.