True or False: Each of the endogenous opioid peptides has a preference for one of the opioid receptors.

The statement is true because each of the endogenous opioid peptides indeed has a preference for specific opioid receptors. The primary endogenous opioid peptides include enkephalins, dynorphins, and β-endorphins, all of which interact with the three main types of opioid receptors: mu (μ), delta (δ), and kappa (κ).

For example, enkephalins primarily activate the delta receptor, while dynorphins preferentially interact with the kappa receptor. β-endorphins mainly stimulate the mu receptor. This specificity is crucial for understanding how these peptides modulate pain, affect mood, and produce various physiological responses. The different affinities of opioid peptides help to shape their effects in the nervous system, leading to the observed differences in analgesia, euphoria, and side effects.

Understanding this preference is essential for developing effective pain management strategies and predicting patient responses to different opioid medications.