Complex interactions between the neuroendocrine and the immune systems are present in
autoimmune diseases. The central opioid peptide β-endorphin (BE) has been shown to
modulate peripheral immune responses in normal animals. In the present study we analyze
the hypothalamic concentrations of this peptide in two models of spontaneous autoimmune
disease, the MLR lpr/lpr mouse, that develops a lupus-like autoimmune disease, and the
obese strain (OS) chickens afflicted with spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis. In both …