beta-Endorphin is associated with overeating in genetically obese mice (ob/ob) and rats (fa/fa)

Small doses of the opiate antagonist naloxone selectively abolished overeating in genetically obese mice (ob/ob) and rats (fa/fa). Elevated concentrations of the naturally occurring opiate beta-endorphin were found in the pituitaries of both obese species and in the blood plasma of the obese rats. Brain levels of beta-endorphin and Leu-enkephalin were unchanged. These data suggest that excess pituitary beta-endorphin may play a role in the development of the overeating and obesity syndrome.

Coordinate control of corticotropin, beta-lipotropin, and beta-endorphin release in mouse pituitary cell cultures

Hypothalamic extract stimulates the release of corticotropin (ACTH) and endorphins 2.5- to 30-fold in mouse pituitary tumor cell cultures (AtT-20/D(16v) line) and primary cell cultures from mouse anterior pituitary. ACTH and endorphin activities were measured by radioimmunoassay and immunoprecipitation. Pretreatment of tumor cell cultures with 1 muM dexamethasone reduced the stimulatory effect of the extract on release of ACTH and endorphins. Pretreatment of primary cell cultures with 10(-6) M dexamethasone reduced the stimulatory effect of both vasopressin and the extract on the release of ACTH and endorphins. Release of ACTH and endorphin was coupled in both kinds of cultures in the basal, stimulated, and inhibited states. The molecular weight forms of ACTH and endorphin in tumor cell culture medium were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Radioimmunoassay and immunoprecipitation show that the 13,000-dalton and 4500-dalton forms of ACTH were present in about equal amounts in medium from cultures incubated with or without hypothalamic extract for 15 min, 30 min, or 2 hr. Smaller amounts of the high molecular weight forms of ACTH (20,000- to 23,000-dalton and 31,000-dalton ACTH) were observed in the culture medium at these times. The predominant forms of endorphin released after 20 min or 3 hr of incubation had molecular weights of 31,000, 11,700 (beta-lipotropic hormone-size material) and 3500 (beta-endorphin-size material). No degradation of the forms of endorphin released into the culture medium was observed after incubating the culture medium for 1.5 hr in the absence of cells. The proportions of the different forms of endorphin and ACTH present in the culture medium resembles that seen in cell extracts.

A case of vasculo-Behcet's syndrome

A case of Behcet's syndrome with vascular complications is presented. This case had a familial occurrence of Behcet's syndrome. His vascular complications were deep vein thrombophlebitis of both legs, aneurysms of the left common iliac artery and the left femoral artery and the occlusion of the left subclavian artery. He was successfully operated on for the aneurysms. This paper discusses the problems accompanying the aneurysm of Behcet's syndrome. The authors pointed out that the subclavian steal syndrome may be diagnosed as neuro-Behet's syndrome and stressed the importance of vascular survay in Behcet's syndrome when the patient complaints of thrombophlebitis.