Editing Enkephalin (section)

==Effects on stress==

Enkephalin is also considered a [[neuropeptide]], which in the human body performs as an important signaling molecule in the brain. Enkephalins are found in high concentration in the [[Human brain|brain]] as well as in the cells of [[adrenal medulla]]. In response to pain, [[norepinephrine]], a [[hormone]] that is activated in fight-or-flight response, is released along with [[endorphins]].<ref>{{cite journal | title = Endorphins | first = Gavril W. | last = Pasternak | name-list-style = vanc | journal = AccessScience | doi = 10.1036/1097-8542.232500 }}</ref> A 2017 study indicates that this polypeptide may be linked to brain functioning during the [[stress response]], especially in the [[hippocampus]] and [[prefrontal cortex]]. This research has suggested that, as part of the stress response, several met-enkephalin analogs have increased activity in the [[hippocampus]], while leu-enkephalin analogs as well as [[somatostatin]]s are [[downregulation|downregulated]] during stress. Stressors may impact neuropeptides whose action is localized to a specific brain region.<ref name="Henry_2017">{{cite journal | vauthors = Henry MS, Gendron L, Tremblay ME, Drolet G | title = Enkephalins: Endogenous Analgesics with an Emerging Role in Stress Resilience | journal = Neural Plasticity | volume = 2017 | pages = 1546125 | date = 2017 | pmid = 28781901 | pmc = 5525068 | doi = 10.1155/2017/1546125 | doi-access = free }}</ref>