RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Endomorphin System and Its Evolving Neurophysiological Role
JF Pharmacological Reviews
JO Pharmacol Rev
FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
SP 88
OP 123
DO 10.1124/pr.59.1.3
VO 59
IS 1
A1 Jakub Fichna
A1 Anna Janecka
A1 Jean Costentin
A1 Jean-Claude Do Rego
YR 2007
UL http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/59/1/88.abstract
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.