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. 1978 Dec;75(12):6240–6242. doi: 10.1073/pnas.75.12.6240

Systemic administration of beta-endorphin: potent hypotensive effect involving a serotonergic pathway.

I Lemaire, R Tseng, S Lemaire
PMCID: PMC393155  PMID: 153530

Abstract

In normal adult rats anesthetized with urethane, intravenous injections of beta-endorphin (30--150 micrograms kg-1) induced a transient fall of blood pressure followed by a small hypertension and a prolonged hypotension. Prior administration of naloxone completely blocked these effects, whereas naloxone, given 1 hr after beta-endorphin, did not reverse the prolonged depressor phase of the opioid peptide. The effects of beta-endorphin on the arterial blood pressure were greatly reduced in animals pretreated with p-chlorophenylalanine, a specific depletor of serotonin. Moreover, in rats pretreated with potent serotonin antagonists such as cyproheptadine, mianserin, and metergoline, beta-endorphin did not produce a significant hypotension. Furthermore, the depressor effect of beta-endorphin was potentiated by fluoxetine, a specific serotonin uptake inhibitor. These observations suggest the participation of a serotonergic pathway in the action of beta-endorphin on the arterial blood pressure.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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