Abstract
Morphine and enkephalins are able to alter pituitary hormone secretion1–3. It has been postulated that they do not act directly at the pituitary4, but rather that the hypothalamus is the site at which inhibition or stimulation of pituitary hormone secretion is initiated4. On the other hand, endogenous opiates have been located in distinctly different neuronal regions, including areas outside the hypothalamus5. The effects of β-endorphin on plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) levels have not been explored, and the present experiments attempt to elucidate the contribution and the possible site of action of β-endorphin in the control of LH secretion. The results show that β-endorphin inhibits pituitary LH secretion if applied into the amygdala but not when given into the hypothalamus.
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Parvizi, N., Ellendorff, F. β-Endorphin alters luteinizing hormone secretion via the amygdala but not the hypothalamus. Nature 286, 812–813 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/286812a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/286812a0
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