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Inverse relationship between beta-endorphin immunoreactivity in cerebrospinal fluid and nucleus tractus solitarius in sudden infant death

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Abstract

In nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) beta-endorphin (BEND) induces bradycardia and respiratory depression which have been reported to precede death in sudden infant death (SID). Of SID victims, 50% have elevated levels of beta-endorphin immunoreactivity (BENDI) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and 50% had undetectable levels. We therefore investigated the relationship of BENDI in the CSF to BENDI levels in the NTS area. This study included SID victims (CSF fromn=47, brain stem fromn=16), borderline SID victims (CSF and brain stem fromn=2), sudden death in childhood (CSF and brain stem fromn=1), and controls (CSF fromn=32, brain stem fromn=11). BEND in CSF and NTS area, after extraction, was measured by radioimmunoasay. High performance liquid chromatography was used for closer identification of BENDI. We found that the SID victims divided into two subpopulations, one having a relatively high BENDI level in CSF and one having no detectable level (P<0.01). Furthermore, an inverse relationship was found between BENDI level in CSF and BENDI level in NTS area in the SID victims (P<0.05). We conclude that increased BENDI level in CSF is associated with low BENDI level in the NTS area in 50% of SID victims. The low BENDI level in CSF is associated with low BENDI level in the NTS area in 50% of SID victims. The low BENDI level in the NTS area may be due to increased release of BEND.

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Abbreviations

ACTH :

adreno corticotropic hormone

BEND :

betaendorphin

BENDI :

beta-eerebrospinal fluid

HPLC :

high performance liquid chromatography

NTS :

nucleus tractus solitarius

SDC :

sudden death in childhood

SID :

sudden infant death

RIA :

radioimmunoassay

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Storm, H., Rognum, T.O. & Reichelt, K.L. Inverse relationship between beta-endorphin immunoreactivity in cerebrospinal fluid and nucleus tractus solitarius in sudden infant death. Eur J Pediatr 153, 381–386 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01956426

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01956426

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