Drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder, which is caused by many factors including genetic, epigenetic, environmental, and drug-related (Robison and Nestler, 2011). Loss of control over drug intake and compulsion for drug taking are the most characteristic features of addiction (Koob and Volkow, 2010). Although many individuals are exposed to substances of abuse, only subsets enter the ...

Plasma B-endorphin and prolactin profiles were obtained from groups of unstressed, adult male rats. The infusion of caffeine (20 mg/kg) via a chronic, indwelling intra-atrial cannula results in a prompt and sustained (2-2.5 h) rise in plasma B-endorphin levels. The infusion of the opiate antagonist naloxone causes a modest (40%) decrease in plasma 8-endorphin and blunts the elevation in plasma ...

β-Endorphin-like immunoreactivity (β-END-LI) was measured by radioimmunoassay in porcine ovarian follicular fluid (FF) from small, medium and large follicles throughout the oestrous cycle. The concentration of β-END-LI in FF from small follicles collected on days 1–5 of the cycle was at least tenfold higher than in the fluid from any other follicles independently from their size and the period ...

  Background:Chronic active adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) immunization of ewes (with a previous history of immunization) resulted in elevated titres of antibody against ACTH, which induced a reduction in circulating levels of cortisol. Objectives:<span style="color: win...

After a traumatic event, people often report using alcohol to relieve their symptoms of anxiety, irritability, and depression. Alcohol may relieve these symptoms because drinking compensates for deficiencies in endorphin activity following a traumatic experience. Within minutes of exposure to a traumatic event there is an increase in the level of endorphins in the brain. During the time of the ...