Endorphins - wikipedia Endorphins For other uses, see Endorphins ( disambiguation ). This article needs more medical references for verification or relies too heavily on primary sources. Please review the contents of the article and add the appropriate references if you can. Unsourced or poorly sourced material may be challenged and removed. ( May 2014 ) Endorphins ( contracted from `` endogenous morphine '' ) are endogenous opioid neuropeptides and peptide hormones in humans and other animals. They are produced by the central nervous system and the pituitary gland. The term `` endorphins '' implies a pharmacological activity ( analogous to the activity of the corticosteroid category of biochemicals ) as opposed to a specific chemical formulation. It consists of two parts : endo - and - orphin ; these are short forms of the words endogenous and morphine, intended to mean `` a morphine - like substance originating from within the body ''. The class of endorphins includes three compounds -- α - endorphin, β - endorphin, and γ - endorphin -- which preferentially bind to μ - opioid receptors. The principal function of endorphins is to inhibit the transmission of pain signals ; they may also produce a feeling of euphoria very similar to that produced by other opioids. Contents 1 Types 2 History 3 Activity 3.1 Depersonalization disorder 4 Etymology 5 Notes 6 References 7 External links Types The class of endorphins includes three endogenous opioid peptides : α - endorphin β - endorphin, cleaved from proopiomelanocortin γ - endorphin History Opioid neuropeptides were first discovered in 1974 by two independent groups of investigators : John Hughes and Hans Kosterlitz of Scotland isolated -- from the brain of a pig -- what some called `` enkephalins '' ( from the Greek εγκέφαλος, cerebrum ). Around the same time, in a calf brain, Rabi Simantov and Solomon H. Snyder of the United States found what Eric Simon ( who independently discovered opioid receptors in vertebral brains ) later termed `` endorphin '' by an abbreviation of `` endogenous morphine '', meaning `` morphine produced naturally in the body ''. Studies have demonstrated that human and diverse animal tissues are capable of producing morphine, which is not a peptide. Activity Endorphins are naturally produced in response to pain, but their production can also be triggered by various human activities. Vigorous aerobic exercise can stimulate the release of β - endorphin, a potent μ - opioid receptor agonist, in the human brain, which contributes to a phenomenon known as a `` runner 's high ''. Laughter may also stimulate endorphin production ; a 2011 study showed that attendees at a comedy club showed increased resistance to pain. Depersonalization disorder Endorphins are suspected to play a role in depersonalization disorder. The opioid antagonists naloxone and naltrexone have both been proven to be successful in treating depersonalization. Quoting a 2001 study involving the drug naloxone, `` in ( 3 ) of 14 patients, depersonalization symptoms disappeared entirely, and ( 7 ) patients showed a marked improvement. The therapeutic effect of naloxone provides evidence for the role of the endogenous opioid system in the pathogenesis of depersonalization. '' Etymology From the words ἔνδον / error : ( ( lang - xx ) ) : text has italic markup ( help ) meaning `` within '' ( endogenous, ἐνδογενής / error : ( ( lang - xx ) ) : text has italic markup ( help ), `` proceeding from within '' ) and morphine, from Morpheus ( Ancient Greek : Μορφεύς, translit. Morpheús, the god of dreams in the Greek mythology, thus ' endo ( genous ) ( mo ) rphine '. Notes Jump up ^ In addition to endorphins, chemically authentic morphine is also produced endogenously in humans and other animals. References Jump up ^ Stefano GB, Ptáček R, Kuželová H, Kream RM ( 2012 ). `` Endogenous morphine : up - to - date review 2011 '' ( PDF ). Folia Biol. ( Praha ). 58 ( 2 ) : 49 -- 56. PMID 22578954. Positive evolutionary pressure has apparently preserved the ability to synthesize chemically authentic morphine, albeit in homeopathic concentrations, throughout animal phyla... The apparently serendipitous finding of an opiate alkaloid - sensitive, opioid peptide - insensitive, μ3 opiate receptor subtype expressed by invertebrate immunocytes, human blood monocytes, macrophage cell lines, and human blood granulocytes provided compelling validating evidence for an autonomous role of endogenous morphine as a biologically important cellular signalling molecule ( Stefano et al., 1993 ; Cruciani et al., 1994 ; Stefano and Scharrer, 1994 ; Makman et al., 1995 )... Human white blood cells have the ability to make and release morphine ^ Jump up to : Goldstein A, Lowery PJ ( September 1975 ). `` Effect of the opiate antagonist naloxone on body temperature in rats ''. Life Sciences. 17 ( 6 ) : 927 -- 31. doi : 10.1016 / 0024 - 3205 ( 75 ) 90445 - 2. PMID 1195988. ^ Jump up to : Li Y, Lefever MR, Muthu D, Bidlack JM, Bilsky EJ, Polt R ( February 2012 ). `` Opioid glycopeptide analgesics derived from endogenous enkephalins and endorphins ''. Future Medicinal Chemistry. 4 ( 2 ) : 205 -- 226. doi : 10.4155 / fmc. 11.195. PMC 3306179. PMID 22300099. Table 1 : Endogenous opioid peptides Jump up ^ `` Is there a link between exercise and happiness ? ''. Retrieved 18 September 2014. Jump up ^ Malenka RC, Nestler EJ, Hyman SE ( 2009 ). `` Chapter 7 : Neuropeptides ''. In Sydor A, Brown RY. Molecular Neuropharmacology : A Foundation for Clinical Neuroscience ( 2nd ed. ). New York : McGraw - Hill Medical. pp. 183, 192. ISBN 9780071481274. Different patterns of tissue - specific cleavage is another step by which a diversity of signaling peptides can be generated. Posttranslational processing can be illustrated by the cleavage and modification of proopiomelanocortin ( POMC ), the precursor of several peptides with distinct biological actions, including adrenocorticotropic hormone ( ACTH ), α - melanocytestimulating hormone ( α - MSH ; also called melanocortin ), and β - endorphin. Jump up ^ `` Role of endorphins discovered ''. PBS Online : A Science Odyssey : People and Discoveries. Public Broadcasting System. 1 January 1998. Retrieved 15 October 2008. Jump up ^ Hughes J, Smith TW, Kosterlitz HW, Fothergill LA, Morgan BA, Morris HR ( December 1975 ). `` Identification of two related pentapeptides from the brain with potent opiate agonist activity ''. Nature. 258 ( 5536 ) : 577 -- 80. doi : 10.1038 / 258577a0. PMID 1207728. Jump up ^ Simantov R, Snyder SH ( July 1976 ). `` Morphine - like peptides in mammalian brain : isolation, structure elucidation, and interactions with the opiate receptor ''. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 73 ( 7 ) : 2515 -- 9. doi : 10.1073 / pnas. 73.7. 2515. PMC 430630. PMID 1065904. Jump up ^ Poeaknapo C, Schmidt J, Brandsch M, Dräger B, Zenk MH ( September 2004 ). `` Endogenous formation of morphine in human cells ''. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 101 ( 39 ) : 14091 -- 6. doi : 10.1073 / pnas. 0405430101. PMC 521124. PMID 15383669. Jump up ^ Kream RM, Stefano GB ( October 2006 ). `` De novo biosynthesis of morphine in animal cells : an evidence - based model ''. Medical Science Monitor. 12 ( 10 ) : RA207 -- 19. PMID 17006413. Jump up ^ Boecker H, Sprenger T, Spilker ME, Henriksen G, Koppenhoefer M, Wagner KJ, Valet M, Berthele A, Tolle TR ( November 2008 ). `` The runner 's high : opioidergic mechanisms in the human brain ''. Cerebral Cortex. 18 ( 11 ) : 2523 -- 31. doi : 10.1093 / cercor / bhn013. PMID 18296435. Jump up ^ Kolata, Gina ( 2008 - 03 - 27 ). `` Yes, Running Can Make You High ''. The New York Times. ISSN 0362 - 4331. Retrieved 2016 - 05 - 26. Jump up ^ Dunbar RI, Baron R, Frangou A, Pearce E, van Leeuwen EJ, Stow J, Partridge G, MacDonald I, Barra V, van Vugt M ( March 2012 ). `` Social laughter is correlated with an elevated pain threshold ''. Proceedings : Biological Sciences. 279 ( 1731 ) : 1161 -- 7. doi : 10.1098 / rspb. 2011.1373. PMC 3267132. PMID 21920973. ^ Jump up to : Nuller YL, Morozova MG, Kushnir ON, Hamper N ( June 2001 ). `` Effect of naloxone therapy on depersonalization : a pilot study ''. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 15 ( 2 ) : 93 -- 5. doi : 10.1177 / 026988110101500205. PMID 11448093. Jump up ^ Simeon D, Knutelska M ( June 2005 ). `` An open trial of naltrexone in the treatment of depersonalization disorder ''. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 25 ( 3 ) : 267 -- 270. PMID 15876908. External links Endorphins at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings ( MeSH ) Peptides : neuropeptides Hormones see hormones Opioid peptides Dynorphins Dynorphin A Dynorphin A Dynorphin B Dynorphin B Big dynorphin α - Neoendorphin β - Neoendorphin Endomorphins Endomorphin - 1 Endomorphin - 2 Endorphins α - Endorphin β - Endorphin γ - Endorphin Enkephalins Met - enkephalin Leu - enkephalin Others Adrenorphin Amidorphin Hemorphin Hemorphin - 4 Nociceptin Opiorphin Spinorphin Valorphin Other neuropeptides Kinins Bradykinins Tachykinins : mammal Substance P Neurokinin A Neurokinin B amphibian Kassinin Physalaemin Neuromedins U Orexins Other Angiotensin Bombesin Calcitonin gene - related peptide Carnosine Cocaine - and amphetamine - regulated transcript Delta sleep - inducing peptide FMRFamide Galanin Galanin - like peptide Gastrin releasing peptide Ghrelin Neuropeptide AF Neuropeptide FF Neuropeptide SF Neuropeptide VF Neuropeptide S Neuropeptide Y Neurophysins Neurotensin Pancreatic polypeptide Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide RVD - Hpα VGF Opioid receptor modulators MOR Agonists ( abridged ; see here for a full list ) : 3 - HO - PCP 7 - Acetoxymitragynine 7 - Hydroxymitragynine ψ - Akuammigine α - Chlornaltrexamine α - Narcotine Acetyldihydrocodeine Acetylfentanyl Acrylfentanyl Adrenorphin ( metorphamide ) AH - 7921 Akuammicine Akuammidine Alfentanil Anileridine Apparicine β - Endorphin BAM - 12P BAM - 18P BAM - 22P Benzhydrocodone Benzylmorphine Bezitramide Biphalin BU08070 Buprenorphine Butorphan Butorphanol Butyrfentanyl BW - 373U86 Carfentanil Casokefamide Cebranopadol Chloroxymorphamine Codeine DADLE DAMGO ( DAGO ) Dermorphin Desmetramadol ( desmethyltramadol ) Desomorphine Dextromoramide Dextropropoxyphene ( propoxyphene ) Dezocine Dimenoxadol Dimethylaminopivalophenone Eluxadoline Diamorphine ( heroin ) Dihydrocodeine Dihydroetorphine Dihydromorphine Diphenoxylate Dipipanone Dynorphin A Embutramide Endomorphin - 1 Endomorphin - 2 Eseroline Ethylmorphine Etorphine Fentanyl Fluorophen Frakefamide Furanylfentanyl Hemorphin - 4 Herkinorin Hodgkinsine Hydrocodone Hydromorphinol Hydromorphone IBNtxA Ketamine Ketobemidone Kratom Laudanosine Lefetamine Leu - enkephalin Levacetylmethadol Levomethorphan Levorphanol Lexanopadol Loperamide Loxicodegol Matrine Meptazinol Met - enkephalin ( metenkefalin ) Methadone Metkefamide Metopon Mitragynine Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl Morphiceptin Morphine Nalbuphine Nalbuphine sebacate NalBzOH Nalmexone Naltalimide Neopine NFEPP Nicocodeine Nicodicodeine Nicomorphine NKTR - 181 Norketamine Octreotide Oliceridine OM - 3 - MNZ Oripavine Oxycodone Oxymorphazone Oxymorphonazine Oxymorphone Oxymorphone phenylhydrazone OxyPNPH Papaver somniferum ( opium ) Pentazocine Pericine Pethidine ( meperidine ) Phenazocine Phencyclidine Piminodine Piritramide PL - 017 Prodine Propiram PZM21 Racemethorphan Racemorphan Remifentanil Salsolinol SC - 17599 Sinomenine Sufentanil Tapentadol Tetrahydropapaveroline TH - 030418 Thebaine Thienorphine Tianeptine Tilidine Tramadol Trimebutine TRIMU 5 TRV734 Tubotaiwine U-47700 Valorphin Viminol Xorphanol PAMs : BMS - 986121 BMS - 986122 Antagonists : ( 3S, 4S ) - Picenadol 2 - ( S ) - N, N - ( R ) - Viminol 3CS - nalmefene 4 - Caffeoyl - 1, 5 - quinide 4 ′ - Hydroxyflavanone 4 ', 7 - Dihydroxyflavone 6β - Naltrexol 6β - Naltrexol - d4 18 - MC α - Gliadin β - Chlornaltrexamine β - Funaltrexamine Akuammine Alvimopan AM - 251 Apigenin AT - 076 Axelopran Bevenopran Catechin Catechin gallate Clocinnamox CTAP CTOP Cyclofoxy Cyprodime Diacetylnalorphine Diprenorphine ECG EGC Epicatechin Eptazocine Gemazocine Ginsenoside R Hyperoside Ibogaine Levallorphan Lobeline LY - 255582 LY - 2196044 Methocinnamox Methylnaltrexone Methylsamidorphan chloride Naldemedine Nalmefene Nalodeine ( N - allylnorcodeine ) Nalorphine Nalorphine dinicotinate Naloxazone Naloxegol Naloxol Naloxonazine Naloxone Naltrexazone Naltrexonazine Naltrexone Naltrindole Naringenin Noribogaine Oxilorphan Pawhuskin A Rimonabant Quadazocine Samidorphan Taxifolin Unknown / unsorted : Cannabidiol Coronaridine Cyproterone acetate Dihydroakuuamine Tabernanthine Tetrahydrocannabinol DOR Agonists : 3CS - nalmefene 6 ' - GNTI 7 - SIOM ADL - 5747 ( PF - 04856881 ) ADL - 5859 Alazocine ( SKF - 10047 ) Amoxapine AR - M100390 ( ARM390 ) AZD2327 β - Endorphin BAM - 18P Biphalin BU - 48 Butorphan Butorphanol BW - 373U86 Casokefamide Cebranopadol Codeine Cyclazocine DADLE Deltorphin A Deltorphin I Deltorphin II Desmethylclozapine Desmetramadol ( desmethyltramadol ) Dezocine Diamorphine ( heroin ) Dihydroetorphine Dihydromorphine DPDPE DPI - 221 DPI - 3290 DSLET Ethylketazocine Etorphine Fentanyl FIT Fluorophen Hemorphin - 4 Hydrocodone Hydromorphone Ibogaine Isomethadone JNJ - 20788560 KNT - 127 Kratom Laudanosine Leu - enkephalin Levomethorphan Levorphanol Lexanopadol Lofentanil Met - enkephalin ( metenkefalin ) Metazocine Metkefamide Mitragynine Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl Morphine N - Phenethyl - 14 - ethoxymetopon Norbuprenorphine NalBzOH Oripavine Oxycodone Oxymorphone Pethidine ( meperidine ) Proglumide Racemethorphan Racemorphan RWJ - 394674 Samidorphan SB - 235863 SNC - 80 SNC - 162 TAN - 67 ( SB - 205,607 ) TH - 030418 Thebaine Thiobromadol ( C - 8813 ) Tonazocine Tramadol TRV250 Xorphanol Zenazocine Antagonists : 4 ', 7 - Dihydroxyflavone 5 ' - NTII 6β - Naltrexol 6β - Naltrexol - d4 α - Santolol β - Chlornaltrexamine Apigenin AT - 076 Axelopran Bevenopran BNTX Catechin Catechin gallate Clocinnamox Diacetylnalorphine Diprenorphine ECG EGC Eluxadoline Epicatechin ICI - 154129 ICI - 174864 LY - 255582 LY - 2196044 Methylnaltrexone Methylnaltrindole N - Benzylnaltrindole Nalmefene Nalorphine Naltrexone Naltriben Naltrindole Naloxone Naringenin Noribogaine Pawhuskin A Quadazocine SDM25N SoRI - 9409 Taxifolin Thienorphine Unknown / unsorted : 18 - MC Cannabidiol Coronaridine Cyproterone acetate Tabernanthine Tetrahydrocannabinol KOR Agonists : 3CS - nalmefene 6 ' - GNTI 8 - CAC 18 - MC 14 - Methoxymetopon β - Chlornaltrexamine β - Funaltrexamine Adrenorphin ( metorphamide ) Akuuamicine Alazocine ( SKF - 10047 ) Allomatrine Apadoline Asimadoline BAM - 12P BAM - 18P BAM - 22P Big dynorphin Bremazocine BRL - 52537 Butorphan Butorphanol BW - 373U86 Cebranopadol Ciprefadol CR665 Cyclazocine Cyclorphan Cyprenorphine Desmetramadol ( desmethyltramadol ) Diamorphine ( heroin ) Diacetylnalorphine Difelikefalin Dihydroetorphine Dihydromorphine Diprenorphine Dynorphin A Dynorphin B ( rimorphin ) Eluxadoline Enadoline Eptazocine Erinacine E Ethylketazocine Etorphine Fedotozine Fentanyl Gemazocine GR - 89696 GR - 103545 Hemorphin - 4 Herkinorin HS665 Hydromorphone HZ - 2 Ibogaine ICI - 199,441 ICI - 204,448 Ketamine Ketazocine Laudanosine Leumorphin ( dynorphin B - 29 ) Levallorphan Levomethorphan Levorphanol Lexanopadol Lofentanil LPK - 26 Lufuradom Matrine MB - 1C - OH Menthol Metazocine Metkefamide Mianserin Mirtazapine Morphine Moxazocine MR - 2034 N - MPPP Nalbuphine Nalbuphine sebacate NalBzOH Nalfurafine Nalmefene Nalodeine ( N - allylnorcodeine ) Nalorphine Naltriben Niravoline Norbuprenorphine Norbuprenorphine - 3 - glucuronide Noribogaine Norketamine Oripavine Oxilorphan Oxycodone Pentazocine Pethidine ( meperidine ) Phenazocine Proxorphan Racemethorphan Racemorphan RB - 64 Salvinorin A ( salvia ) Salvinorin B ethoxymethyl ether Salvinorin B methoxymethyl ether Samidorphan Spiradoline ( U-62,066 ) TH - 030418 Thienorphine Tifluadom Tricyclic antidepressants ( e.g., amitriptyline, desipramine, imipramine, nortriptyline ) U-50,488 U-54,494 A U-69,593 Xorphanol Antagonists : 4 ′ - Hydroxyflavanone 4 ', 7 - Dihydroxyflavone 5 ' - GNTI 6 ' - GNTI 6β - Naltrexol 6β - Naltrexol - d4 β - Chlornaltrexamine Buprenorphine / samidorphan Amentoflavone ANTI Apigenin Arodyne AT - 076 Axelopran AZ - MTAB Binaltorphimine BU09059 Buprenorphine Catechin Catechin gallate CERC - 501 ( LY - 2456302 ) Clocinnamox Cyclofoxy Dezocine DIPPA EGC ECG Epicatechin Hyperoside JDTic LY - 255582 LY - 2196044 LY - 2444296 LY - 2459989 LY - 2795050 MeJDTic Methylnaltrexone ML190 ML350 MR - 2266 N - Fluoropropyl - JDTic Naloxone Naltrexone Naltrindole Naringenin Norbinaltorphimine Noribogaine Pawhuskin A PF - 4455242 RB - 64 Quadazocine Taxifolin UPHIT Zyklophin Unknown / unsorted : Akuammicine Akuammine Coronaridine Cyproterone acetate Dihydroakuuamine Ibogamine Tabernanthine NOP Agonists : ( Arg14, Lys15 ) Nociceptin ( ( pF ) Phe ) Nociceptin ( 1 - 13 ) NH ( Phe Ψ ( CH - NH ) Gly ) Nociceptin ( 1 - 13 ) NH Ac - RYYRWK - NH Ac - RYYRIK - NH BU08070 Buprenorphine Cebranopadol Dihydroetorphine Etorphine JNJ - 19385899 Levomethorphan Levorphanol Levorphanol Lexanopadol MCOPPB MT - 7716 NNC 63 - 0532 Nociceptin ( orphanin FQ ) Nociceptin ( 1 - 11 ) Nociceptin ( 1 - 13 ) NH Norbuprenorphine Racemethorphan Racemorphan Ro64 - 6198 Ro65 - 6570 SCH - 221510 SCH - 486757 SR - 8993 SR - 16435 TH - 030418 Antagonists : ( Nphe ) Nociceptin ( 1 - 13 ) NH AT - 076 BAN - ORL - 24 J - 113397 JTC - 801 LY - 2940094 NalBzOH Nociceptin ( 1 - 7 ) Nocistatin SB - 612111 SR - 16430 Thienorphine Trap - 101 UFP - 101 Unsorted β - Casomorphins Amidorphin BAM - 20P Cytochrophin - 4 Deprolorphin Gliadorphin ( gluteomorphin ) Gluten exorphins Hemorphins Kava constituents MEAGL MEAP NEM Neoendorphins Nepetalactone ( catnip ) Peptide B Peptide E Peptide F Peptide I Rubiscolins Soymorphins Others Enkephalinase inhibitors : Amastatin BL - 2401 Candoxatril D - Phenylalanine Dexecadotril ( retorphan ) Ecadotril ( sinorphan ) Kelatorphan Racecadotril ( acetorphan ) RB - 101 RB - 120 RB - 3007 Opiorphan Selank Semax Spinorphin Thiorphan Tynorphin Ubenimex ( bestatin ) Propeptides : β - Lipotropin ( proendorphin ) Prodynorphin Proenkephalin Pronociceptin Proopiomelanocortin ( POMC ) Others : Kyotorphin ( met - enkephalin releaser / degradation stabilizer ) See also : Receptor / signaling modulators Signaling peptide / protein receptor modulators NDL : 00576121 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Endorphins&oldid=812047011 '' Categories : Opioid peptides Analgesics Neuropeptides Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from February 2015 Articles needing additional medical references from May 2014 All articles needing additional references Articles containing Greek - language text Articles containing Latin - language text All pages needing factual verification Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from July 2014 Articles containing Ancient Greek - language text Lang and lang - xx template errors Talk Contents About Wikipedia Azərbaycanca Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Gaeilge Galego 한국어 Հայերեն Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Íslenska Italiano עברית Latina Latviešu Lietuvių Magyar Македонски مازِرونی Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk پنجابی Polski Português Русский Simple English Slovenčina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska தமிழ் ไทย Türkçe Українська 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 25 November 2017, at 17 : 33. 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Question: what is the body natural version of morphine
Answer: Endorphins