Abstract
We measured β-endorphin concentrations in the anterior and neurointermediate lobes of the pituitary gland and in microdissected brain regions of moderate-seizure genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPR-3), severe- seizure GEPR-9s and Sprague-Dawley non-epileptic control rats. Plasma concentrations of β-endorphin and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α- MSH) were also measured as indicators of pituitary POMC-peptide secretion. Concentrations of β-endorphin in the anterior lobe of GEPR-3s were 53% higher compared to controls and 57% higher compared to GEPR-9s. There were no differences in neurointermediate lobe β-endorphin concentrations between control and either GEPR strain. Plasma β-endorphin concentrations were significantly lower in GEPR-9s than controls. Plasma levels of α-MSH did not differ between control and GEPRs. In the hypothalamus of GEPR-9s β- endorphin concentrations in the arcuate nucleus were significantly greater than in GEPR-3s. Concentrations of β-endorphin in the central amygdala of GEPR-9s were two- to threefold greater than in control or GEPR-3s. β- Endorphin concentrations in the central gray of GEPR-3s were 58% lower than control or GEPR-9s. These data suggest that anterior lobe β-endorphin secretion is reduced in GEPR-9s. Furthermore, brain endorphinergic pathways appear to be differentially altered in GEPR-3s and GEPR-9s. Alterations in pituitary β-endorphin secretion and brain endorphinergic systems may contribute to seizure susceptibility in GEPRs and to differences in seizure severity between GEPR-3s and GEPR-9s.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 113-122 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Epilepsy Research |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1998 |
Keywords
- Anterior lobe
- Brain stem
- Epilepsy
- Hypothalamus
- Intermediate lobe
- Opioid
- Radioimmunoassay
- α-Melanocyte- stimulating hormone