Simultaneous measurement of β-endorphin, lipotrophins and met-enkephalin in phaeochromocytomas
- 1 September 1982
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Acta Endocrinologica
- Vol. 101 (1), 72-77
- https://doi.org/10.1530/acta.0.1010072
Abstract
Tissue concentrations of immunoreactive lipotrophin, .beta.-endorphin and Met-enkephalin were determined in 10 pheochromocytomas, 3 of which were responsible for the ectopic ACTH syndrome. Lipotropin and .beta.-endorphin immunoreactivities were detected in all cases, whether or not Cushing''s syndrome was present, and their tissue concentrations were significantly correlated (r = 0.95, P < 0.001). Chromatographic studies showed that .gamma.-lipotropin and .beta.-endorphin were the main peptides in the tumors. Met-enkephalin immunoreactivity were also found in all tumors examined, at much higher concentration and showing no correlation with either lipotropin or .beta.-endorphin immunoreactivity. Although .beta.-endorphin and Met-enkephalin are thought to originate from different precursor molecules, these data show that the 2 opioid peptides may be secreted by the same tumor. The evidence for excess secretion of opioid peptides and their pathological significance in pheochromocytomas remain to be established.This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit:
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