Abstract
In a study whether gastrointestinal endogenous opioids can be modified by vagal denervation or by pharmacological application of an opiate, we examined met-enkephalin-immunoreactivity in gastrointestinal tissue in rats with and without truncal vagotomy and with and without subcutaneously implanted morphine pellets. The immunoreactivity of the tissue extracts gave dose-response lines in the radioimmunoassay for met-enkephalin which were near parallel to that for the standard. On Sephadex chromatography the met-enkephalin immunoreactivity eluted at a position similar to synthetic met-enkephalin. Tissue concentration of met-enkephalin immunoreactivity was not significantly different from the respective control after vagotomy and after morphine treatment. Total gastric met-enkephalin immunoreactive content increased significantly after vagotomy in line with gastric hypertrophy occurring after vagotomy without a drainage procedure. From these results it is concluded that met-enkephalin immunoreactivity in the rat gastrointestinal tract is regulated intrinsically, it is neither altered by vagal denervation nor by exogenous opiate administration.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
