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Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Primary Culture of Rat Adrenocortical Cells and Assays of Steroidogenic Functions
Published on: March 12, 2019
Elucidation and characteristics of non-opioid beta-endorphin receptors in rat adrenal cortex
E V Navolotskaya1, Yu A Kovalitskaya, Yu A Zolotarev
1Branch of Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia. navolots@fibkh.serpukhov.su
Abstract:
beta-Endorphin-like decapeptide immunorphin (SLTCLVKGFY), a selective agonist of non-opioid beta-endorphin receptor, was labeled with tritium to specific activity of 24 Ci/mmol. It was used for the detection and characterization of non-opioid beta-endorphin receptors on rat adrenal cortex membranes (Kd1 = 39.6 +/- 2.0 nM, Bmax1 = 40.7 +/- 2.3 pmol/mg protein; Kd2 = 0.25 +/- 0.01 micro M, Bmax2 = 187.8 +/- 9.4 pmol/mg protein). beta-Endorphin was found to inhibit the [3H]immunorphin specific binding to membranes (Ki = 70.0 +/- 9.2 nM); naloxone, [Met5]enkephalin, and alpha- and gamma-endorphins tested in parallel were inactive. Immunorphin at concentrations of 10(-9)-10(-6) M was found to inhibit the adenylate cyclase activity in adrenocortical membranes, while intramuscular injection of immunorphin at doses of 10-100 micro g/kg was found to reduce the secretion of 11-oxycorticosteroids from the adrenals to the bloodstream.
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