Plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity (PL-beta-ED-ir) in patients with ulcer disease and its management by acute and chronic administration of gastrozepin.

The initial level of PL-beta-ED-ir was significantly lowered in a group of 14 patients with gastroduodenal ulcer disease as compared with healthy volunteers (P less than 0.05). Immediately after i.m. administration of 20 mg gastrozepin (G) the PL-beta-ED-ir level increased but not significantly. Given orally over two weeks, G (50 mg/day) led to a more than doubling of the initial level (P less than 0.05). Controls showed no significant changes. A further meaningful change represented the time relationship of PL-beta-ED-ir during 5-hour observation to i.m. administration of 20 mg G before the start and after the end of the 2-week oral therapy. The placebo character of the above findings rules out the absence of any deviations of PL-beta-ED-ir in the diseased and healthy group after i.m. injection of saline. The study deals with the findings in relation to the pathophysiology of ulcer disease, and with a potential interference of G in the interrelation of the cholinergic and endogenous opiate systems.