Peptide F (pro-enkephalin fragment): radioimmunoassay, and stress-induced changes in adrenal

Utilizing a nine amino-acid (Asp-Glu-Leu-Tyr-Pro-Leu-Glu-Val-Glu) non-enkephalin containing fragment of Peptide F from the pro-enkephalin molecule, a radioimmunoassay was developed. Extraction of bovine, rat, and guinea pig adrenomedullary preparations demonstrated this fragment to be present and apparently partially conserved across species. In rats, acute inescapable foot-shock stress led to a significant decrease of the immunoreactive material in the adrenal medulla. Chronic daily stress for two weeks resulted in an inability of the adrenals to alter F levels upon subsequent stress. The existence of F-like immunoreactivity and its alteration by environmental manipulation, suggest that it may play a unique physiological role.