Is β-endorphin significant in the control of the male sexual response?

Andrologia
S UckertMarkus A Kuczyk

Abstract

It has been assumed that β-endorphin, belonging to the family of opiodergic neuropeptides, might facilitate the inhibition of the male sexual response; however, its role in the control of the penile erectile tissue remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate in healthy men the course of β-endorphin in the systemic and cavernous blood through different stages of sexual arousal. Thirty-four (34) men were exposed to erotic stimuli to induce penile tumescence and rigidity. Blood was aspirated from the corpus cavernosum and a cubital vein during the penile conditions flaccidity, tumescence, rigidity and detumescence. Plasma levels of β-endorphin were determined by means of radioimmunometric methods. The effects of β-endorphin on isolated human penile erectile tissue were investigated in vitro. β-endorphin did not induce a contractile response of the cavernous tissue or reverse the contraction induced by noradrenaline. β-endorphin decreased in the systemic blood when the penis became tumescent and rigid and increased during detumescence. In the cavernous blood, no alterations in β-endorphin concentrations were observed. The drop in β-endorphin observed during tumescence and rigidity seems likely to reflect the inhibition o...Continue Reading

References

Oct 1, 1978·Psychoneuroendocrinology·J H MendelsonN K Mello
Jan 1, 1987·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·J G Pfaus, B B Gorzalka
Aug 1, 1983·The Journal of Urology·J GuS R Bloom
Aug 1, 1980·The American Journal of Psychiatry·S M MirinJ Ellingboe
Jan 1, 1982·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·D D Kelly
Jan 1, 1993·Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomédecine & Pharmacothérapie·J F DalayeunS Bergal
Aug 8, 1998·Psychoneuroendocrinology·T KrügerM Schedlowski
Nov 4, 2000·The Journal of Urology·A J BeckerU Jonas
Sep 2, 2005·The Journal of Endocrinology·J Bancroft

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 24, 2020·Peptides·Richard J Bodnar

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.