PubMed · 1800019
Decrease of beta-endorphin in the brain of rats following nitrous oxide withdrawal.
Abstract
beta-Endorphin levels in the whole rat brain were not changed during acute (25 min) or chronic (48 h) exposure of rats to N2O. However, a significant decrease of beta-endorphin was found in the whole brain, brain stem and subcortex during the withdrawal from chronic exposure to N2O. It has been suggested that decrease of beta-endorphin levels during N2O withdrawal could be ascribed to unspecific stress accompanying drug withdrawal. Decrease of central beta-endorphin during N2O withdrawal might have a significant modulatory effect on transmitter balance, neuronal excitability and corresponding withdrawal behaviour. Furthermore, the decrease of beta-endorphin levels in the whole brain during N2O withdrawal might contribute to the postanaesthesia N2O-excitatory syndrome in humans. This might explain the known therapeutic effect of the opioid drug, meperidine on the excitatory N2O withdrawal phenomena during recovery from N2O anaesthesia in man.
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M R Dzoljic, J Haffmans, J Rupreht, M J Adolfs, M M Dzoljic, S L Cappendijk. 1991. Decrease of beta-endorphin in the brain of rats following nitrous oxide withdrawal.. https://doi.org/10.1515/dmdi.1991.9.2.139
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