| endorphin | <protein> Any of several morphine-like peptides naturally produced in the brain which bind to certain neuron receptors and have the effect of diminishing pain. Released in response to neurotransmitters and rapidly inactived by peptidases. Physiological responses to endorphins include analgesia and sedation. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| endorphinergic | Relating to nerve cells or fibres that employ an endorphin as their neurotransmitter. Origin: endorphin + G. Ergon, work (05 Mar 2000) |
| endorphins | One of the three major groups of endogenous opioid peptides. They are large peptides derived from the pro-opiomelanocortin precursor. The known members of this group are alpha-, beta-, and gamma-endorphin. The term endorphin is also sometimes used to refer to all opioid peptides, but the narrower sense is used here; opioid peptides is used for the broader group. (12 Dec 1998) |
| alpha-endorphin | <chemical> An endogenous opioid peptide derived from the pro-opiomelanocortin precursor. It differs from gamma-endorphin by one amino acid. Chemical name: alpha-Endorphin (12 Dec 1998) |
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| beta-endorphin | <chemical> A peptide consisting of amino acid sequence 61-91 of the endogenous pituitary hormone beta-lipotropin. The first four amino acids show a common tetrapeptide sequence with methionine- and leucine enkephalin. The compound shows opiate-like activity. Injection of beta-endorphin induces a profound analgesia of the whole body for several hours. This action is reversed after administration of naloxone. Chemical name: beta-Endorphin (12 Dec 1998) |
| gamma-endorphin | <chemical> An endogenous opioid peptide derived from the pro-opiomelanocortin precursor peptide. It differs from alpha-endorphin by one amino acid. Chemical name: gamma-Endorphin (12 Dec 1998) |