Opioid polypeptides in guinea pig pancreas.

Extracts from guinea pig pancreas were found to contain high molecular weight enkephalin-containing polypeptides as well as free [Met]enkephalin and [Leu]enkephalin and the hexa-, hepta-, and octapeptides derived from proenkephalin. Within the limits of sensitivity of our assay (10 fmol/g of tissue), beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin were undetectable.