CSF-endorphines in acute and chronic brain lesions.

In order to answer the question of an opioid influence on consciousness, a radio-immuno-assay (n = 852) of beta-endorphin and beta-LPH (beta-lipotropic hormone) in both ventricular CSF and blood plasma was carried out in 101 neurosurgical patients. The following results were obtained: I) beta-END and beta-LPH levels were found to be lower in the CSF than in blood plasma. II) beta-END and beta-LPH in the CSF was the same in both sexes. III) beta-END levels in the CSF decreased with age. IV) beta-END and beta-LPH levels showed a diurnal rhythm with a maximum in the late a. m. hours. V) beta-END levels in the ventricular CSF tend to decrease parallel to a drop in conciousness as well as with longlasting comatous states. VI) beta-END in ventricular CSF becomes higher with increasing systolic arterial blood pressure. VII) beta-END and beta-LPH levels in ventricular CSF are not correlated with the type of the disease, CSF pressure, body temperature or respiratory changes.