Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

CSF-endorphines in acute and chronic brain lesions

  • Basic research
  • Published:
Neurosurgical Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In order to answer the question of an opioid influence on consciousness, a radio-immuno-assay (n = 852) of β-endorphin and β-LPH (β-lipotropic hormone) in both ventricular CSF and blood plasma was carried out in 101 neurosurgical patients. The following results were obtained:

  1. I)

    β-END and β-LPH levels were found to be lower in the CSF than in blood plasma.

  2. II)

    β-END and β-LPH in the CSF was the same in both sexes.

  3. III)

    β-END levels in the CSF decreased with age.

  4. IV)

    β-END and β-LPH levels showed a diurnal rhythm with a maximum in the late a. m. hours.

  5. V)

    β-END levels in the ventricular CSF tend to decrease parallel to a drop in conciousness as well as with longlasting comatous states.

  6. VI)

    β-END in ventricular CSF becomes higher with increasing systolic arterial blood pressure.

  7. VII)

    β-END and β-LPH levels in ventricular CSF are not correlated with the type of the disease, CSF pressure, body temperature or respiratory changes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Arndt JO, E Freye: Opiate antagonist reverses the cardiovascular effects of inhalation anaesthesia. Nature 277 399–400 (1979)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Baskin DS, Y Hosobuchi: Naloxone reversal of ischaemic neurological deficits in man. Lancet 2 272–275 (1981)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bell EF: The use of naloxone in the treatment of diazepam poisoning. J Pediatr 87 803–804 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Brandt NJ, L Terenius, Bendt Brock Jakobsen, L Klinken, L Nordius, S Brandt, K Blegvad, M Yssing: Hyper-endorphin syndrome in a child with necrotizing encephalomyelopathy. N Engl J Med 303 914–916 (1980)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Coombs DW, LH Maurer, C Cate, MG Pageau: CSF β-endorphin and menigeal carcinomatosis. Arch Neurol 39 388 (1982)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Facchinetti F, F Petraglia, G Nappi, E Martignoni, G Antoni, D Parrini, AR Genazzani: Different patterns of central and peripheral βEP, βLPH and ACTH throughout life. Peptides 4 469–474 (1983)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Foltz EL, RP Schmidt: The role of the reticular formation in the coma of head injury. J Neurosurg 13 145–154 (1956)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Frowein RA, HW Steinmann, D Terhaag, K auf der Haar: Koma-Einteilung und Verlaufsbeobachtung. Hefte Unfallheilkunde 132 187–195 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Frowein RA, E Hamel, KE Richard, K auf der Haar: Criteria for the diagnosis of brain death. Adv Neurosurg 14 368–373 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Furui T, K Satoh, Y Asano, S Shimosawa, M Hasuo, TL Yaksh: Increase of β-endorphin levels in cerebrospinal fluid but not in plasma in patients with cerebral infarction. J Neurosurg 61 748–751 (1984)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Gillman MA, FJ Lichtigfeld: The opiate system in traumatic brain death. Lancet 18 156 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hamel E, B Allolio: β-endorphin-immunoreactivity in the ventricular CSF and plasma of comatose patients. Neurosurg Rev 1 1987 (in press)

  13. Holaday JW, AI Faden: Naloxone acts at central opiate receptors to reverse hypotension, hypothermia and hypoventilation in spinal shock. Brain Research 189 295–299 (1980)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hughes J: Isolation of an endogenous compound from the brain with pharmacological properties similar to morphine Brain Res 88 295–308 (1975)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Iselin HU, P Weiss: Naloxone reversal of ischemic neurological deficits Lancet 2 642–643 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jabaily J, JN Davis: Naloxone administration to patients with acute stroke. Stroke 15 36–39 (1984)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Jellinger K, P Riederer, P Kothbauer: Changes of some putative neurotransmitters in human cerebral infarktion. J Neural Transm 14 31–44 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Katz ER, B Sharp, J Kellerman, AR Marston, JM Hershman, StE Siegel: β-endorphin immunoreactivity and acute behavioral distress in children with leukemia J Ner Ment Dis 170 72–77 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kumar MSA, CL Chen, DC Sharp, JM Liu, PS Kalra, SP Kalra: Diurnal fluctuations in methionine-enkephalin levels in the hypothalamus and preoptic area of the male rat: Effects of pinealectomy. Neuroendocrinology 35 28–31 (1982)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Mrsulja BB, BJ Mrsulja, V Cvejic, BM Djuricic, L Rogac: Alterations of putative neurotransmitters and enzymes during ischemia in gerbil cerebral cortex. J Neural Transm 14 23–30 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Nakao K, Y Nakai, S Oki, S Matsubara, T Konishi, H Nishitani, H Imura: Immunoreactive β-endorphin in human cerebrospinal fluid. J Clin Endocrin Metabol 50 230–233 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Neuser D, KP Lesch, JP Stasch, H Przuntek: Betaendorphin-, leucine enkephalin-, and methionine-enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in human cerebrospinal fluid. Eur Neurol 23 73–81 (1984)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Petraglia F, F Facchinetti, D Parrini, G Micieli, S Deluca, AR Genazzani: Simultaneous circadian variations of plasma ACTH, betalipotropin, beta-endorphin and cortisol. Hormone Res 17 147–152 (1983)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Siesjö BK: Brain energy metabolism and catecholaminergic activity in hypoxia, hypercapnia and ischemia. J Neural Transm 14 17–22 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Simon EJ, JM Hiller, I Edelman: Stereospecific binding of the potent narcotic analgesic (3H) etorphine to rat-brain homogenate Proc Natl Acad Sci (USA) 70 1947–1949 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Sourkes TL: Tryptophan in hepatic coma. J Neural Transm 14 79–86 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Tönnis W: Pathophysiologie und Klinik der intrakraniellen Drucksteigerung. In:Olivecrona H, W Tönnis (eds.): Handbuch der Neurochirurgie. Springer-Verlag Berlin — Göttingen — Heidelberg 1959

    Google Scholar 

  28. Wesche DL, RCA Frederickson: Diurnal differences in opioid peptide levels correlated with nociceptive sensitivity. Life Sci 24 1861 (1979)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery Klinikum Ingolstadt, Ingolstadt, West Germany

    Erhard Hamel

  2. Neurochirurgische Abteilung, Klinikum Ingolstadt, Krumenauerstraße 25, D-8070, Ingolstadt, West Germany

    Erhard Hamel

Authors
  1. Erhard Hamel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hamel, E. CSF-endorphines in acute and chronic brain lesions. Neurosurg. Rev. 11, 193–199 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01794687

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01794687

Keywords

Search

Navigation