beta-endorphin and Parkinson-Disease

A single intrastriatal injection of a slow release formulation of a metabolically-stable MPF analogue was given to rats with lesioned right nigrostriatal pathways. After 6 weeks the turning behaviour of the rats in response to D-amphetamine began to decline, and after 12 weeks the reduction was marked and consistent. The implication of our results in the use of intracerebral grafts in parkinsonian patients is discussed.

Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; beta-Endorphin; Delayed-Action Preparations; Disease Models, Animal; Male; Molecular Sequence Data; Parkinson Disease; Peptide Fragments; Rats; Rats, Wistar

The concentrations of somatostatin (SRIF), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), beta-endorphin (beta-EP), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) immunoreactivity were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and controls. In order to study the mechanisms that regulate peptide levels in CSF and peptide interactions, correlations between CSF peptides were determined. Within all patient groups a number of significant correlations were shown to exist between CSF peptides. The correlations were apparently not coincidental, since there was no such relation between the concentrations of CSF peptides and CSF protein content. Neither age, sex, severity of dementia nor the presence of extrapyramidal signs could explain the number of significant correlations. These results indicate, that the correlations found between CSF peptides may be due to common regulatory mechanisms or general physiological behaviour of peptides in the CSF.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease; beta-Endorphin; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropeptides; Parkinson Disease; Somatostatin; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Among Parkinson's disease (PD) patients complaining of pain, 10 with pain not associated with a motor fluctuation or L-dopa therapy were evaluated. The controls were 14 PD without pain and eight with thalamic pain syndrome. The threshold of pain and neurotransmitters in CSF were measured in the three groups. In PD with pain, the maximum tolerance level and tourniquet pain ratio decreased significantly. In PD with pain, the score on the self-depression scale increased significantly and 5-hydroxy-indole acetic acid (5-HIAA) among the neurotransmitters decreased significantly. These results suggest that decreases in the threshold of pain and changes of serotonin in CSF are involved in the development of specific pain in PD who do not respond to L-dopa.

Topics: Aged; beta-Endorphin; Female; Homovanillic Acid; Humans; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; Male; Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; Neurotransmitter Agents; Nociceptors; Pain; Pain Measurement; Paresthesia; Parkinson Disease; Sensation; Sensory Thresholds

The dexamethasone suppression test (DST) has been suggested as an effective tool for differentiating between depression and dementia. After administering 1 mg dexamethasone, we measured cortisol, ACTH, and beta-endorphin levels in 32 nondepressed patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) (14 also with dementia) and 20 healthy, age-matched controls. Four of the 20 controls, 9 of the 18 with PD alone, and 8 of the 14 with PD and dementia were dexamethasone nonsuppressors (cortisol value greater than or equal to 5 micrograms/100 ml). PD patients without dementia (nonsuppressors) showed higher basal plasma values of cortisol (22.06 +/- 5.30 micrograms/100 ml) compared with the suppressors (13.38 +/- 3.30 micrograms/100 ml). Plasma ACTH and beta-endorphin responded in a coupled way to dexamethasone challenge. Higher basal levels of both peptides were found among PD patients (demented and nondemented), nonresponders to DST. Thus, the DST does not appear to be effective in differentiating between depression and dementia in PD. In addition, PD nonsuppressors showed higher basal values of plasma ACTH, beta-endorphin, and cortisol (similar to patients with major depression). This suggests that although the depression is clinically undetectable, both disorders may share some pathophysiological features at the hypothalamic hypophyseal adrenal level.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Aged; beta-Endorphin; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; Dementia; Depressive Disorder; Dexamethasone; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Middle Aged; Parkinson Disease; Personality Tests

beta-Endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta-EP-LI) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was measured in 42 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 36 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and 35 controls. Values for patients with Alzheimer's disease (10.9 +/- 2.8 pmol/l) seemed to be lower than those for controls (12.9 +/- 2.5 pmol/l) (P less than 0.05). In addition, the severely demented patients had lower values than the moderately demented (P less than 0.01). In patients with Parkinson's disease no significant difference in beta-EP-LI values was observed compared to the controls. The data suggest, that processing of pro-opiomelanocortin, precursor of beta-endorphin, and the mechanism of cognitive impairment may differ in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease; beta-Endorphin; Endorphins; Female; Humans; Hypothalamus; Male; Middle Aged; Parkinson Disease; Pro-Opiomelanocortin; Radioimmunoassay

Illustrated by several examples from the past it is demonstrated how difficult it is to predict future developments in neurosurgery. Several determinants can be recognized as exerting a positive or a negative influence in this respect. Careful observation of unexpected events and consequent consideration in combination with a spiritual independency, are aspects which will contribute in a positive way. The reverse will unavoidably lead to abolition of new ideas and concepts. Authority in a personal as well as in an impersonal way, may act as a negative determinant. This aspect is illustrated by some examples regarding the phenomenon of the "medical mandarin" as a personal authority, and the irrational adherence to paradigms as an impersonal one. Based upon recent experiments new ways for neurosurgical activities are indicated, concerning 1st transplantation of fetal central nervous tissue and of adrenal medullary tissue, and 2nd deep long-term stimulation of the beta endorphin-serotonin system for the control of chronic pain.

Topics: Adrenal Medulla; beta-Endorphin; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Corpus Striatum; Electric Stimulation Therapy; Endorphins; Enkephalins; Forecasting; Humans; Microsurgery; Neurosurgery; Otosclerosis; Pain Management; Parkinson Disease; Serotonin; Stapes Mobilization; Stereotaxic Techniques

Experimental and human data in young volunteers suggest that tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic systems physiologically inhibit pituitary secretion of beta-endorphin. This hypothesis was verified in patients with Parkinson's disease, a human model of a selective deficit of dopamine. Both previously untreated patients and patients who had been without chronic treatment for 1 week showed plasma beta-endorphin levels significantly higher than those of healthy age-matched controls. Plasma beta-lipotropin levels of patients and of controls were similar. There was no correlation between plasma opioid levels and age, severity, or duration of the disease. In five patients retested during chronic treatment, plasma levels both of beta-endorphin and of beta-lipotropin significantly decreased. This decrease approximately paralleled clinical improvement. The finding that in Parkinson's disease there is a reversible disinhibition of pituitary secretion of beta-endorphin confirms that this secretion is physiologically inhibited by tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic systems.

Topics: Aged; beta-Endorphin; beta-Lipotropin; Dopamine; Endorphins; Female; Humans; Hypothalamus; Levodopa; Male; Middle Aged; Parkinson Disease; Pituitary Gland

The concentrations of gamma 3-melanotropin-, alpha-melanotropin-, corticotropin-, gamma-lipotropin- and beta-endorphin-immunoreactivities were determined simultaneously, before and after gel exclusion chromatography, in whole hypothalamic extracts of normal subjects and Parkinson patients. All five immunoreactivities were present and were all significantly correlated to each other. Shorter peptides (alpha-melanotropin, gamma 3-melanotropin, beta-endorphin and a lipotropin37-58-like peptide) were the dominant products. Whereas the dopamine content was significantly reduced in Parkinson patients, there was no significant difference for any peptide between normal subjects and Parkinson patients, either in tissue concentrations or in chromatographic patterns.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Aged; beta-Endorphin; beta-Lipotropin; Chromatography, Gel; Endorphins; Female; Humans; Hypothalamus; Male; Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; Parkinson Disease; Pro-Opiomelanocortin; Radioimmunoassay

We measured CSF and plasma contents of beta-endorphin (beta-EP), beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH), and ACTH in 24 patients with Parkinson's disease; 14 had not been treated. CSF beta-EP concentrations in untreated patients were lower than in 15 controls (p less than 0.005), but values did not differ significantly in treated and untreated patients. In untreated and treated patients, ACTH and beta-LPH CSF, and beta-EP, beta-LPH, and ACTH plasma concentrations were in the same range as controls. The Parkinson's disease-related decrease of CSF beta-EP levels further supports the concept that there is a generalized brain disorder in Parkinson's disease affecting more than dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.

Topics: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Aged; beta-Endorphin; beta-Lipotropin; Endorphins; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Parkinson Disease