Endogenous opioid peptides in pregnancy

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Abstract
Summary. Plasma levels of two endogenous opioid peptides, β‐endorphin and met‐enkephalin, as well as immunoreactive N‐terminal β‐lipotrophin (N‐LPH) were studied in normal pregnant women from 8 to 41 weeks gestation. A total of 116 samples were assayed for β‐endorphin‐like immunoreactivity (C‐LPH), 103 for N‐LPH and 75 for met‐enkephalin. Plasma β‐endorphin‐like immunoreactivity and N‐LPH levels rose progressively throughout gestation and reached a maximum at term. Plasma met‐enkephalin immunoreactivity did not significantly change throughout pregnancy. These results reflect an increasing and consistent adreno‐corticotrophin (ACTH)/β‐LPH and β‐endorphin secretion throughout pregnancy, while the unchanged met‐enkephalin levels are compatible with its known derivation from a separate precursor system.

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