Evidence Showing That β-Endorphin Regulates Cyclic Guanosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate (cGMP) Efflux: Anatomical and Functional Support for an Interaction between Opiates and Nitric Oxide
Pu S, Horvath TL, Diano S, Naftolin F, Kalra PS, Kalra SP. Evidence Showing That β-Endorphin Regulates Cyclic Guanosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate (cGMP) Efflux: Anatomical and Functional Support for an Interaction between Opiates and Nitric Oxide. Endocrinology 1997, 138: 1537-1543. PMID: 9075713, DOI: 10.1210/endo.138.4.5086.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExcitatory amino acidsMedial preoptic areaCGMP/Opioid influenceGnRH secretionNitric oxidePreoptic areaN-methyl-D-aspartate receptorsMu-opiate receptor agonistNOS-immunopositive cellsNOS-immunoreactive neuronsPituitary LH secretionOpiate receptor agonistsOpiate receptor antagonistRelease of GnRHCentral nervous systemDirect inhibitory controlExcitatory NMDATonic restraintLH secretionEndogenous opioidsNOS pathwayReceptor antagonistBeta-endorphinGonadal steroids