Substance P and opiate-like peptides in human adrenal medulla.

Opiate-like peptides (OLP), substance P (SP) and catecholamines (CA) were measured in 15 human adrenal medullae. Two groups of subjects were investigated. Group a consisted of subjects who died after traffic accidents and Group b consisted of subjects with other causes of death. OLP levels in Group a were only about 13%, and SP and CA levels about 50% of Group b. It is suggested that these differences might be due to massive premortal adrenal medullary discharge rather than post mortem degradation.