Placenta for Pain Relief:
Placenta ingestion by rats enhances y- and n-opioid antinociception, but suppresses A-opioid antinociception
Jean M. DiPirro*, Mark B. Kristal
Ingestion of placenta or amniotic fluid produces a dramatic enhancement of centrally mediated opioid antinociception in the rat. The present experiments investigated the role of each opioid receptor type (A, y, n) in the antinociception-modulating effects of Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor (POEF—presumably the active substance). Antinociception was measured on a 52 jC hotplate in adult, female rats after they ingested placenta or control substance (1.0 g) and after they received an intracerebroventricular injection of a y-specific ([D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE); 0, 30, 50, 62, or 70 nmol), A-specific ([D-Ala2,N-MePhe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO); 0, 0.21, 0.29, or 0.39 nmol), or n-specific (U-62066; spiradoline; 0, 100, 150, or 200 nmol) opioid receptor agonist. The results showed that ingestion of placenta potentiated y- and n-opioid antinociception, but attenuated A-opioid antinociception. This finding of POEF action as both opioid receptor-specific and complex provides an important basis for understanding the intrinsic pain-suppression mechanisms that are activated during parturition and modified by placentophagia, and important information for the possible use of POEF as an adjunct to opioids in pain management.
D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Enhancement of Opiod-Medicated Analgesia: A Solution to the Enigma of Placentophagia
Explores prolactin and progesterone concentrations in rats, after placenta consumption.
Participation of Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor in Opioid-Modulated Events at Parturition
Explores the effect of the ingestion of placenta and amniotic fluid on the enhancement of pregnancy-induced analgesia. Amniotic-fluid ingestion provides enhancement of analgesia early in the delivery process, and placenta ingestion provides analgesia enhancement later in delivery and could produce enhancement that lasts into the early postpartum period.
Iron Content of Intact Placentas and Cords
Through a series of experiments, this study summarizes how the Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor plays a significant role in pain relief and postpartum recovery for recently postpartum mammals.
Jean M. DiPirro*, Mark B. Kristal
Ingestion of placenta or amniotic fluid produces a dramatic enhancement of centrally mediated opioid antinociception in the rat. The present experiments investigated the role of each opioid receptor type (A, y, n) in the antinociception-modulating effects of Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor (POEF—presumably the active substance). Antinociception was measured on a 52 jC hotplate in adult, female rats after they ingested placenta or control substance (1.0 g) and after they received an intracerebroventricular injection of a y-specific ([D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE); 0, 30, 50, 62, or 70 nmol), A-specific ([D-Ala2,N-MePhe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO); 0, 0.21, 0.29, or 0.39 nmol), or n-specific (U-62066; spiradoline; 0, 100, 150, or 200 nmol) opioid receptor agonist. The results showed that ingestion of placenta potentiated y- and n-opioid antinociception, but attenuated A-opioid antinociception. This finding of POEF action as both opioid receptor-specific and complex provides an important basis for understanding the intrinsic pain-suppression mechanisms that are activated during parturition and modified by placentophagia, and important information for the possible use of POEF as an adjunct to opioids in pain management.
D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Enhancement of Opiod-Medicated Analgesia: A Solution to the Enigma of Placentophagia
Explores prolactin and progesterone concentrations in rats, after placenta consumption.
Participation of Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor in Opioid-Modulated Events at Parturition
Explores the effect of the ingestion of placenta and amniotic fluid on the enhancement of pregnancy-induced analgesia. Amniotic-fluid ingestion provides enhancement of analgesia early in the delivery process, and placenta ingestion provides analgesia enhancement later in delivery and could produce enhancement that lasts into the early postpartum period.
Iron Content of Intact Placentas and Cords
Through a series of experiments, this study summarizes how the Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor plays a significant role in pain relief and postpartum recovery for recently postpartum mammals.
