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  • Title: The effect of surgery on plasma beta-endorphin and methionine-enkephalin.
    Author: Smith R, Besser GM, Rees LH.
    Journal: Neurosci Lett; 1985 Mar 22; 55(1):17-21. PubMed ID: 2859564.
    Abstract:
    Seven women undergoing abdominal hysterectomy under halothane and nitrous oxide analgesia had plasma samples taken before, during and after surgery for assay of adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH), beta-endorphin, beta-lipotrophin and methionine (Met)-enkephalin immunoreactivity. Plasma ACTH, beta-endorphin and beta-lipotrophin all rose in parallel from the start of surgery and were unaffected by postoperative opiate analgesia. Plasma Met-enkephalin concentrations did not change significantly during the course of the surgery and immediate post-operative period, although the variance of the samples increased at the time of the first skin incision. These data indicate that the stress of surgery and post-operative pain, while producing marked elevations of proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides, are not associated with changes in plasma Met-enkephalin. These data exclude a role for circulating Met-enkephalin in the modulation of surgical pain but do not exclude such a role for beta-endorphin.
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