CSF Beta-endorphin Levels in Patients with Infantile Autism

Overview

Journal J Autism Dev Disord

Publisher Springer

Date 1997 Apr 1

PMID 9105966

Citations 6

Authors

S NAGAMITSU

T Matsuishi

T Kisa

H Komori

M Miyazaki

T Hashimoto

Y Yamashita

E Ohtaki

H Kato

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We measured CSF levels of beta-endorphin, an opioid hormone, in 19 patients with infantile autism and in 3 patients with Rett syndrome, and compared them with control values. In infantile autism, CSF levels of beta-endorphin did not differ significantly from those of age-matched controls. There was no significant correlation between CSF levels and clinical symptoms, including self-injurious behavior, pain insensitivity, and stereotyped movement. However, CSF levels of beta-endorphin were significantly higher in the patients with Rett syndrome than in the control (p < .05). Data suggest that neurons containing beta-endorphin may not be involved in patients with infantile autism. Thus, there is no relationship between dysfunction of brain opioid and autism.

Citing Articles

μ opioid receptor, social behaviour and autism spectrum disorder: reward matters.

Pellissier L, Gandia J, Laboute T, Becker J, Le Merrer J Br J Pharmacol. 2017; 175(14):2750-2769.

PMID: 28369738 PMC: 6016638. DOI: 10.1111/bph.13808.

Sensory cognitive abnormalities of pain in autism spectrum disorder: a case-control study.

Yasuda Y, Hashimoto R, Nakae A, Kang H, Ohi K, Yamamori H Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2016; 15:8.

PMID: 26949409 PMC: 4779208. DOI: 10.1186/s12991-016-0095-1.

Pain sensitivity and observer perception of pain in individuals with autistic spectrum disorder.

Allely C ScientificWorldJournal. 2013; 2013:916178.

PMID: 23843740 PMC: 3697411. DOI: 10.1155/2013/916178.

[Autism and pain - a literature review].

Dubois A, Rattaz C, Pry R, Baghdadli A Pain Res Manag. 2010; 15(4):245-53.

PMID: 20808970 PMC: 2935725. DOI: 10.1155/2010/749275.

Non-suicidal self-injurious behavior, endogenous opioids and monoamine neurotransmitters.

Stanley B, Sher L, Wilson S, Ekman R, Huang Y, Mann J J Affect Disord. 2009; 124(1-2):134-40.

PMID: 19942295 PMC: 2875354. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2009.10.028.

References

Gillberg C, Terenius L, Hagberg B, Eriksson I . CSF beta-endorphins in childhood neuropsychiatric disorders. Brain Dev. 1990; 12(1):88-92. DOI: 10.1016/s0387-7604(12)80185-9. View

Gillberg C, Terenius L, Lonnerholm G . Endorphin activity in childhood psychosis. Spinal fluid levels in 24 cases. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1985; 42(8):780-3. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.1985.01790310042005. View

Yamamoto Y, Yanaihara C, Katsumaru Y, Mochizuki T, TOBE A, Egawa M . Synthesis of porcine leumorphin and some of its biological activities. Regul Pept. 1983; 6(2):163-8. DOI: 10.1016/0167-0115(83)90009-5. View

Percy A, Zoghbi H, Lewis K, Jankovic J . Rett syndrome: qualitative and quantitative differentiation from autism. J Child Neurol. 1988; 3 Suppl:S65-7. DOI: 10.1177/0883073888003001s12. View

Ernst M, Devi L, Silva R, Gonzalez N, Small A, Malone R . Plasma beta-endorphin levels, naltrexone, and haloperidol in autistic children. Psychopharmacol Bull. 1993; 29(2):221-7. View

Sandman C, Barron J, DeMet E . Brief report: plasma beta-endorphin and cortisol levels in autistic patients. J Autism Dev Disord. 1991; 21(1):83-7. DOI: 10.1007/BF02207000. View

Myer E, Tripathi H, Brase D, Dewey W . Elevated CSF beta-endorphin immunoreactivity in Rett's syndrome: report of 158 cases and comparison with leukemic children. Neurology. 1992; 42(2):357-60. DOI: 10.1212/wnl.42.2.357. View

BLOOM F, Segal D, Ling N, Guillemin R . Endorphins: profound behavioral effects in rats suggest new etiological factors in mental illness. Science. 1976; 194(4265):630-2. DOI: 10.1126/science.185694. View

McQueen D . Opioid peptide interactions with respiratory and circulatory systems. Br Med Bull. 1983; 39(1):77-82. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bmb.a071795. View

10.

Black S . Naltrexone in infantile autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 1994; 24(2):236-9. DOI: 10.1007/BF02172101. View

11.

Matsuishi T, Sakai T, NAGAMITSU S, Komori H, Iwashita H, Kato H . Decreased cerebrospinal fluid levels of beta-endorphin in Japanese patients with Joseph disease. Ann Neurol. 1994; 36(3):441-3. DOI: 10.1002/ana.410360317. View

12.

NAGAMITSU S . CSF beta-endorphin levels in pediatric neurologic disorders. Kurume Med J. 1993; 40(4):233-41. DOI: 10.2739/kurumemedj.40.233. View

13.

Winsberg B, Sverd J, Castells S, Hurwic M, Perel J . Estimation of monoamine and cyclic-AMP turnover and amino acid concentrations of spinal fluid in autistic children. Neuropediatrics. 1980; 11(3):250-5. DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1071393. View

14.

Barreca T, Siani C, Franceschini R, Francaviglia N, Messina V, Perria C . Diurnal beta-endorphin changes in human cerebrospinal fluid. Life Sci. 1986; 38(24):2263-7. DOI: 10.1016/0024-3205(86)90579-5. View

15.

Hagberg B . Rett syndrome: clinical peculiarities, diagnostic approach, and possible cause. Pediatr Neurol. 1989; 5(2):75-83. DOI: 10.1016/0887-8994(89)90031-3. View

16.

Leboyer M, Bouvard M, Dugas M . Effects on naltrexone on infantile autism. Lancet. 1988; 1(8587):715. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(88)91525-5. View

17.

Hanley H, Stahl S, Freedman D . Hyperserotonemia and amine metabolites in autistic and retarded children. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1977; 34(5):521-31. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.1977.01770170031002. View

18.

Echenne B, Bressot N, Bassir M, Daures J, Rabinowitz A . Cerebrospinal fluid beta-endorphin and cortisol study in Rett syndrome. J Child Neurol. 1991; 6(3):257-62. DOI: 10.1177/088307389100600310. View

19.

Leboyer M, Bouvard M, Launay J, Tabuteau F, Waller D, Dugas M . Brief report: a double-blind study of naltrexone in infantile autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 1992; 22(2):309-19. DOI: 10.1007/BF01058158. View

20.

Sahley T, Panksepp J . Brain opioids and autism: an updated analysis of possible linkages. J Autism Dev Disord. 1987; 17(2):201-16. DOI: 10.1007/BF01495056. View