Effects of taste stimulation on beta-endorphin levels in rat cerebrospinal fluid and plasma.

Opioids are suggested to be involved in generation of palatability and facilitation of consumption of food and fluid. We measured the level of an endogenous opioid, beta-endorphin, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma after free drinking of water and taste solutions in Wistar rats. When the water-deprived animals were allowed to drink 10 mL of water, the level of beta-endorphin increased significantly 60 and 90 min after the start of drinking in both samples. beta-Endorphin in the CSF increased most after ingestion of 0.5 M sucrose and 0.005 M saccharin followed by 0.1 M NaCl, 0.1 mM quinine and water. An intragastric infusion of 7 mL of water did not change the beta-endorphin level. Essentially the same results were obtained for plasma samples except that NaCl and quinine solutions did not increase beta-endorphin levels. Sucrose became ineffective in releasing beta-endorphin in both samples after the establishment of conditioned taste aversions to this taste stimulus. These results suggest that the release of beta-endorphin is positively correlated with the palatability of taste stimuli, and that CSF beta-endorphin also reflects the reinforcement of fluid intake in thirsty animals.