Science, Vol 224, Issue 4652, 1017-1019
Copyright © 1984 by American Association for the Advancement of Science
Elevated beta-endorphin in cerebrospinal fluid after electrical brain stimulation: artifact of contrast infusion?
RG Fessler,
FD Brown,
Rachlin JR,
S Mullan,
and
VS Fang
Beta-Endorphin-like immunoreactivity in cerebrospinal fluid was assayed in 11 patients receiving electrical stimulation of the brain for chronic pain. Immunoreactivity increased dramatically after contrast ventriculography prior to stimulation. No further elevations were observed after stimulation. The magnitude and time course of elevations were identical after placement of electrodes either in the thalamus or in the periventricular gray matter. These results suggest that previous findings of stimulation-induced elevation of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity in cerebrospinal fluid are attributable to an artifact of contrast ventriculography.
