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Review
. 2000 Sep;23(9):436-42.
doi: 10.1016/s0166-2236(00)01611-8.

Endogenous morphine

G B Stefano  1 , Y Goumon, F Casares, P Cadet, G L Fricchione, C Rialas, D Peter, D Sonetti, M Guarna, I D Welters, E Bianchi
Affiliations
Review

Endogenous morphine

G B Stefano et al. Trends Neurosci. 2000 Sep.

Abstract

It is now well accepted that endogenous morphine is present in animals, both in invertebrates and vertebrates. It is a key signaling molecule that plays an important role in downregulating physiological responses, such as those in the immune system, including immune elements in the CNS. It has been demonstrated that a specific mu-opiate-receptor subtype, mu3, mediates these downregulatory effects through release of NO. This article examines morphine as an endogenous signaling molecule, in terms of its role in neural and immune regulation.

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