Dependence creating properties of lipotropin C-fragment (β-endorphin): Evidence for its internal control of behavior

Abstract

The C-fragment of lipotropin (β-endorphin) possesses reinforcing properties, in that this peptide, like heroin, induced intraventricular self-administering behavior in drug naive rats. Only mild behavioral signs reminiscent of physical dependence were present. After injection into the nucleus raphé magnus, C-Fragment appeared to act as a discriminative stimulus in rats trained to discriminate fentanyl from saline. These data indicate that naturally occuring C-Fragment exerts powerful control of behavior, which may be of significance for the understanding of the mechanisms underlying opiate dependence.