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Role of β-Endorphin in the Ovary: In Vitro Studies of Porcine Ovaries and Individual Follicles

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Endorphins in Reproduction and Stress

Abstract

Evidence for a local ovarian production of β-endorphin has been reported for several species, e.g., sheep, mouse, rat, and human (Lim et al. 1983; Shaha et al. 1984; Aleem et al. 1986; Adams and Cicero 1989). Concentrations of β-endorphin in ovarian follicular fluid were reported to be significantly higher than in peripheral blood, suggesting a local ovarian secretion (Petraglia et al. 1985; Aleem et al. 1987). Recently, a periovulatory increase of β-endorphin was found in women with a normal cycle. Oral contraceptives abolished this mid-cycle increase, suggesting an ovarian contribution to the peripheral pool of β-endorphin (Comitini et al. 1989).

Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft grant Ho 388/6-1.

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© 1990 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Westhof, G., Bensch, J., Braendle, W.L. (1990). Role of β-Endorphin in the Ovary: In Vitro Studies of Porcine Ovaries and Individual Follicles. In: Distler, W., Beck, L. (eds) Endorphins in Reproduction and Stress. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75797-6_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75797-6_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-52736-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-75797-6

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