The Healing Brain

A Scientific Reader

Robert Ornstein and

Charles Swencionis,

(editors)

Candace Pert

Receptors

Receptors for External Opiates(Exogenous ligand)

morphine

heroinopium

codeine

Endogenous Ligands(internal opiates)Beta-endorphin

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/micro/gallery/endorphin/endorph2.jpg

Peptide produced by nerve cells

in the brain

http://pdelagrange.free.fr/povlab/demopic/neurons.jpg

Neuropeptides

Opiate receptors20,000 amino acids

20 amino acids阿片制劑感受器

The Biochemistry of Emotions

Hypothalamus

( 丘腦下部 )

(homeostasis)

Pituitary ( 垂體 )(regulates hormone)

Amygdala ( 杏仁核 )(fear)

Opiate receptors in limbic system

Hypothalamus

丘腦下部40-fold higher with

opiate receptors

Walter B Cannon

Many of the neuropeptides are

hormones produced by the glands

and not by nerve cells, e.g. insulin胰島素

Hormones stores in

one place of the

body and travel to its

receptors in other

parts of the bodyhttp://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/micro/gallery/hormones/hormone.jpg

夷島素Insulin

• Insulin secreted by pancreas

• BUT—insulin also found to be made and stored in the brain

• In amygdala and hypothalamus

Nodal points

• Points that receive a lot of emotional modulation

• We have found that for virtually all the senses for which we know the entry area, the spot is always a nodal point for neuropeptides receptors

Angiotensin

• Mediates thirst• Found in brain and in

kidney

血管緊張素

CCK

• Found in brain, gut and spleen

• Food satiety – makes you not want to eat

• From esophagus to the large intestine – all lined with nerve, neuropeptides opiate receptors

Cells in immune systemMonocytes

The new discovery I want to emphasize here is that every neuropeptide receptor that we have looked for is also on the human monocytes.

These emotion-affecting biochemicals [neuropeptides]actually appear to control the routing and migration of monocytes.

The cells of the immune system not only have receptors for these various neuropeptides, … they also make the neuropeptides themselves.