Abstract
WE have suggested previously that Met-enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin1 may act as neurotransmitters in the central and peripheral nervous systems2,3. Recent studies on the distribution of the enkephalins support this view4–6. An important step in establishing a possible neurotransmitter role of the enkephalins is the demonstration of their release from neuronal sites by potassium ions or veratridine. Indirect evidence for the release of enkephalin or endorphin has been provided by several workers7–10. We now present direct evidence for such release from isolated brain slices and synaptosomal preparations.
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HENDERSON, G., HUGHES, J. & KOSTERLITZ, H. In vitro release of Leu- and Met-enkephalin from the corpus striatum. Nature 271, 677–679 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/271677a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/271677a0
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