β-Endorphin: cellular localization, electrophysiological and behavioral effects

Abstract

Tremendous excitement has been generated by the isolation, purification, and subsequent synthesis of the opioid peptides. Our collaborative efforts have been directed at the questions of where β-endorphin is stored in brain and pituitary, how such structures are related to those storing the enkephalins and possibly other biogenic substances, and the functions of these peptides expressed through their electrophysiological properties. Although none of these questions is yet completely answered, sufficient data have been accumulated (Bloom et al., 1976, 1977a, b; Guillemin et al., 1977a, b, c; Rossier et al., 1977a, b, c; Nicoll et al., 1977; Henriksen et al., 1977; French et al., 1977) to enable us to give this overview and progress report.