Autism Studies and Related Medical Conditions, January 2009 - TACA

Dubynin VA, Maklakova AS, Nezavibat'ko VN, Alfeeva LA, Kamenskii AA,
Ashmarin IP: Effects of systemically-administered beta-casomorphin-7 on nociception
in rats. [Article in Russian] Biull Eksp Biol Med 1992 Sep;114(9):284-6.
Abstract: The influence of food-derived heptapeptide beta-casomorphin-7 (beta-CM-
7) on pain sensibility of white rats was studied by tail flick test. As shown for doses 10
and 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally, injected beta-CM-7 induced significant analgesia; lower
peptide concentration (5 mg/kg) was ineffective. As a whole, there is a significant
positive correlation between the intensity of analgesia and the quantity of administered
exorphine. These changes of pain sensibility were observed for one hour after injection
of heptapeptide; further measurements showed no significant difference of time
reaction between control and experimental groups of rats. It was found out that
animals with high native level of pain sensibility (4-8 sec) made the main contribution to
manifestation of analgesia.
Bouvard M.P., Leboyer M., Launay J.M., Kerdelhue B., Dugas M.: The opiod
excess hypothesis of autism: A double-blind study of naltrexone. Proc. of the Intern.
Symp. on Neurob. of Inf. Autism, 1990, Neurobiology of Infantile Autism, Exerpta
Medica 1992.
Teschemacher H, Koch G: Opioids in the milk. Endocr Regul 1991 Sep;25(3):147-50.
Abstract: Rudolf-Buchheim-Institut fur Pharmakologie, Justus-Liebig-Universitat
Giessen, Germany.
In various studies, the milk has been screened for the presence of free or precursorbound
opioids. In fact, various opioid receptor ligands with agonistic or even
antagonistic activity were found. Besides the alkaloid morphine, peptides derived from
alpha-casein (alpha-casein exorphins), beta-casein (beta-casomorphins; betacasorphin),
alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-lactorphins) and beta-lactoglobulin (betalactorphin)
were among the agonists. In addition, certain peptides derived from k-
casein (casoxins) or from lactoferrin (lactoferroxins) were found to behave like opioid
antagonists. Although a functional role in the mammalian organism for all of these
compounds appears to be well possible, evidence has only been presented for the
functional significance of beta-casomorphins, so far. These peptides might play a role in
reproduction or nutrition in the female, in the newborn's or in a milk consumer's
organism, respectively. Thus, opioids related to milk might represent essential
exogenous extensions of the endogenous opiodergic systems.
Risebro, B.: Gluten-free diet in infantile autism. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 1991 Jun
10;111(15):1885-6 [Article in Norwegian]
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