Immunoreactive beta-endorphin in human cerebrospinal fluid

To elucidate the nature of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and its relationship with plasma beta-endorphin, plasma and CSF specimens were obtained simultaneously. Gel chromatography revealed that beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in CSF consisted of two components with elution positions compatible to those of beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH), respectively, and an additional larger molecule. The beta-endorphin level in CSF obtained from four nonendocrine patients was 17.9 +/- 2.3 pg/ml (mean +/- SE) and corresponded to 20% of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity. The predominant componet in CSF was either beta-LPH or the larger molecule. beta-Endorphin levels in CSF were consistently higher than those in plasma, and there seemed to be no relationship between them. One patient with Nelson's syndrome had a CSF beta-endorphin level of 14.8 pg/ml, although the plasma level was 784 pg/ml. On the other hand, one patient under glucocorticoid treatment had a CSF beta-endorphin level of 13.0 pg/ml and an undetectably low plasma level. It is concluded that 1) beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity consists of beta-endorphin, beta-LPH, and possibly the precursor molecule; and 2) there exists marked dissociation between plasma and CSF beta-endorphin levels, suggesting the possible central nervous system origin of beta-endorphin in CSF.

Plasma beta-endorphin responses to somatostatin, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, or vasopressin in Nelson's syndrome

To elucidate the regulation of secretion of beta-endorphin in Nelson's syndrome, both ACTH and beta-endorphin were measured using RIA. We found that beta-endorphin and ACTH were secreted concomitantly in responses to the administration of lysine-8-vasopressin and TRH. Conversely, the administration of somatostatin to this patient reduced the secretion of both beta-endorphin and ACTH. Thus, beta-endorphin is probably secreted cooredinately with ACTH in patients with Nelson's syndrome.

Substantial rise of plasma beta-endorphin levels after insulin-induced hypoglycemia in human subjects

To elucidate whether insulin-induced hypoglycemia enhances the release of beta-endorphin in man, plasma extracts obtained from healthy subjects and patients with Graves' disease before and 45 min after insulin injection were subjected to gel chromatography, and the fractions obtained were measured by RIA for beta-endorphin. In four healthy subjects, basal plasma beta-endorphin levels were less than 3 to 3.1 pg/ml, and the levels rose substantially to 47.5 +/- 12.4 pg/ml (mean +/- SE) 45 min after insulin injection. Basal plasma beta-endorphin levels in three hyperthyroid patinets (less than 3 to 3.8 pg/ml) did not seem to be different from those in healthy subjects; however, the rise after insulin injection tended to be higher in cases of hyperthyroidism, with a peak value of 68.5 +/- 9.7 pg/ml. Plasma beta-lipotropin and ACTH levels also rose in parallel with beta-endorphin in response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in both healthy subjects and hyperthyroid patients. It would thus appear that beta-endorphin, like ACTH or beta-lipotropin, is released in human subjects by hypoglycemic stress.

Presence of immunoreactive beta-endorphin in normal human plasma: a concomitant release of beta-endorphin with adrenocorticotropin after metyrapone administration

To elucidate whether or not beta-endorphin exists in plasma of normal subjects, plasma extracts obtained before and after metyrapone administration were subjected to gel exclusion chromatography, and fractions obtained were assayed by a sensitive radioimmunoassay for beta-endorphin. The basal plasma level of beta-endorphin was 5.8 +/- 1.1 pg/ml (mean +/- SE, n = 5), which rose significantly to the level of 48.9 +/- 3.8 pg/ml after a single oral dose (30 mg/kg of body wt) of metyrapone administration (P less than 0.001). Plasma ACTH levels also increased from the mean basal level of 73 +/- 4 pg/ml to 269 +/- 41 pg/ml after metyrapone administration. These results indicate that beta-endorphin, distinct from beta-lipotropin, exists in normal human plasma and that it is released from the pituitary concomitantly with ACTH.

[Aneurysmal bone cyst of the skull -a case report- (author's transl)]

Aneurysmal bone cyst of the skull is rarely seen. There are 29 reported cases in the literatures as far as we could collect. We reported an additional case of aneurysmal bone cyst of the skull which originated from the right parietal bone of 4-year-old boy. We have summarized these 29 cases. The age incidence in this series is from 14 month-old to 31 year-old. There are 11 cases under the age of 10. In most cases clinical symptoms are palpable mass or headache and exophthalmos. Eyeball displacement and proptosis are also the symptoms when this disease occurs at the orbital roof. According to the characteristic radiographic appearance, it is "blown-out pattern with a shell of periosteal new bone over the mass or soap-bubble appearance". However in our case the radiological finding was osteolytic. It is possible to remove totally when this lesion occurs in the cranial vault, but only curettage may be performed when the skull base is involved. Total removal is the best treatment. Radiation therapy is usually done in the recurrent cases. It is necessary to follow up for at least 4 years because of the rarity of recurrence beyond 4 years after the initial treatment. We also described the other differential diseases and pathogenesis of this disease.

Fusion in phospholipid spherical membranes. I. Effect of temperature and lysolecithin

A study concerning membrane contact and fusion phenomena was made for phospholipid spherical bilayer systems with respect to temperature. Specific temperatures were obtained for the spherical bilayer membranes of phosphatidyl choline (PC) and phosphatidyl serine (PS) which indicated a greater degree of membrane fusion and were designated Tf (the fusion temperature -- PC: 43 degrees C, PS: 38 degrees C). These temperatures were reduced by about 10 degrees C for the membranes incorporated with 20% lysophosphatidyl choline. The results of the contact and fusion observed in the spherical membranes are compared and discussed with the conductance characteristics of the PC and PS planar bilayer membranes as well as dissolution study on the phospholipid monolayers formed at the air/water interface with respect to temperature. Also, a possible molecular mechanism of membrane fusion is discussed in terms of the fluidity and instability of the membrane.

Radioimmunoassay of main urinary metabolite of prostaglandin F2alpha

Radioimmunoassay of 5alpha, 7alpha-dihydroxy-11-keto-tetranorprosta-1,16-dioic acid, main urinary metabolite of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha), was performed using an antiserum produced in the rabbit. The antibody in 100 mu1 of 1,600-fold diluted antiserum binds with 60 picograms of metabolite. The main urinary metabolite level fell when flufenamic acid, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, was given to rats. In contrast, it was significantly elevated when PGF2alpha was administered.