Chemicals and Drugs

Opioid Peptides

The endogenous peptides with opiate-like activity. The three major classes currently recognized are the ENKEPHALINS, the DYNORPHINS, and the ENDORPHINS. Each of these families derives from different precursors, proenkephalin, prodynorphin, and PRO-OPIOMELANOCORTIN, respectively. There are also at least three classes of OPIOID RECEPTORS, but the peptide families do not map to the receptors in a simple way.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The endogenous peptides with opiate-like activity. The three major classes currently recognized are the ENKEPHALINS, the DYNORPHINS, and the ENDORPHINS. Each of these families derives from different precursors, proenkephalin, prodynorphin, and PRO-OPIOMELANOCORTIN, respectively. There are also at least three classes of OPIOID RECEPTORS, but the peptide families do not map to the receptors in a simple way.

MeSH Record

Classification

Related Concepts

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

7 entry terms
  • Opiate Peptides
  • Opioid Peptide
  • Peptide, Opioid
  • Peptides, Opiate
  • Peptides, Opioid
  • Endogenous Opiates
  • Opiates, Endogenous

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

29 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, deficiency, drug effects, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

95; OPIOID PEPTIDES was see ENDORPHINS 1982-94; OPIATES, ENDOGENOUS was see ENDORPHINS 1980-94

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Endorphins (1978-1994)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Opioid Peptides. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D018847. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D018847
  2. Opioid Peptides. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioid_peptide
  3. Opioid Peptides. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q417189