Endorphin

"Endorphin release" is not a specific molecule or receptor, but rather a physiological process involving the secretion of endogenous opioid peptides—primarily beta‐endorphins—from the pituitary gland and hypothalamus in response to pain, stress, or pleasurable activities[1][4][5][6]. These peptides bind to opioid receptors throughout the nervous system to relieve pain, reduce stress, improve mood, and reinforce rewarding behaviors[1][3][4]. The term "endorphins" encompasses several related peptides derived from proopiomelanocortin (POMC), including alpha-, beta-, and gamma‐endorphins[1]. The therapeutic targets relevant here are actually the opioid receptors, such as mu-opioid receptor—not “endorphin release” itself. Therefore: > The entry “Endorphin release” is incorrect as a therapeutic target because it refers to a biological process rather than a discrete molecular entity like a receptor or enzyme[1][4]. #### Additional Notes If you seek structured information about drug targets involved in this pathway: | Canonical Name | Abbreviation | Is Target | Aliases | |-------------------------------|--------------|-----------|--------------------------| | Mu-opioid receptor | MOR | true | OPRM1 | | Delta-opioid receptor | DOR | true | OPRD1 | | Kappa-opioid receptor | KOR | true | OPRK1 | For accurate data extraction purposes going forward, replace “Endorphin release” with one of these specific molecular targets.

Other names

Endogenous opioid peptideBeta-endorphinAlpha-endorphinGamma-endorphin

Drugs targeting the endorphin system typically act as agonists or antagonists at opioid receptors: - Agonists mimic endorphins to produce analgesia and euphoria. - Antagonists block these effects for overdose reversal or addiction treatment.