PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Jakub Fichna
AU  - Anna Janecka
AU  - Jean Costentin
AU  - Jean-Claude Do Rego
TI  - The Endomorphin System and Its Evolving Neurophysiological Role
AID  - 10.1124/pr.59.1.3
DP  - 2007 Mar 01
TA  - Pharmacological Reviews
PG  - 88--123
VI  - 59
IP  - 1
4099  - http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/59/1/88.short
4100  - http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/59/1/88.full
SO  - Pharmacol Rev2007 Mar 01; 59
AB  - Endomorphin-1 (Tyr-Pro-Trp-Phe-NH2) and endomorphin-2 (Tyr-Pro-Phe-Phe-NH2) are two endogenous opioid peptides with high affinity and remarkable selectivity for the μ-opioid receptor. The neuroanatomical distribution of endomorphins reflects their potential endogenous role in many major physiological processes, which include perception of pain, responses related to stress, and complex functions such as reward, arousal, and vigilance, as well as autonomic, cognitive, neuroendocrine, and limbic homeostasis. In this review we discuss the biological effects of endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2 in relation to their distribution in the central and peripheral nervous systems. We describe the relationship between these two μ-opioid receptor-selective peptides and endogenous neurohormones and neurotransmitters. We also evaluate the role of endomorphins from the physiological point of view and report selectively on the most important findings in their pharmacology.