Science Stock Photography Scientific stock photography library of light microscope pictures and electron microscopy images featuring science and biomedical microscopy photos

Enkephalin (endorphin) crystals

Image Number: 860204-35

Caption:

Enkephalin (endorphin) crystals. Enkephalin is a naturally occurring peptide endorphin (penta-peptide) isolated from the brain that has strong effects similar to opiates, and probably functions as a neurotransmitter. Endorphins bind to the opioid receptors in the brain. They disinhibit the dopamine pathways, causing more dopamine to be released into the synapses. Endorphins are endogenous opioid biochemical compounds. They are peptides produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates, and they resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a sense of well-being. In other words, they work as natural pain killers. The term endorphin is used generally to refer to all of the endogenous opioid compounds and implies a pharmacological activity (analogous to the activity of the corticosteroid category of biochemicals). The best-known endorphins are α-endorphin, β-endorphin and γ-endorphin, of which β-endorphin appears to be most implicated in pain relief. Endorphins regulate feelings of pain, hunger, heightened sensitivity and are connected to the production of sex hormones.

Keywords:

| 860204-35.tif 12.01.04 a-endorphin ¤-endorphin alpha-endorphin beta-endorphin biochemical crystal crystals drug drugs endogenous opioid endorphins enkephalin hunger natural pain killer neurotransmitter opiate opiates opioid receptors pain relief peptide penta-peptide pharmacological activity synapse synapses transmitter gamma-endorphin endorphin LM |

• Scientific Image Library – over 2,200 light microscopy and electron microscopy images of Algae, Arachnids, Bacteria, Crystals, Fungi, Insects, Invertebrates, Medical, Miscellaneous, Plants, Protozoa, Vertebrates, and Viruses. Biological, medical and general sciences images are available for licensed, rights-managed, non-exclusive use.
• Contact us if you can't find an image. Our archives contain thousands of black & white micrographs (colorizations available).
• Assignment Photography – Contact us for custom scientific imaging of samples and products. Dennis Kunkel Ph.D has over 35 years of microscopy expertise in biological and medical sciences.

Dennis Kunkel Microscopy, Inc. is a scientific stock photography agency (science stock photography, science stock photographs / pictures) featuring biology, medical and biomedical microscopy photos / pictures taken with light microscopes (LM) and electron microscopes (transmission electron microscope - TEM; scanning electron microscope - SEM). Microscopy photographs (science images, electron microscope images, photomicrographs, microscopy photos, microscope photos, microscopic pictures) are available for use in editorial and commercial formats. Image categories include Algae, Arachnids, Bacteria, Crystals, Fungi, Insects, Invertebrates, Medical, Miscellaneous, Plants, Protozoa, Vertebrates and Viruses.