[The role of endorphins in the etiopathogenesis of circulatory diseases].

At the beginning of the 70-ties various studies showed the existence of endogenous opiates in central nervous system. The chemical structure of first endogenous pentapeptides called enkephalins (met-enkephalin and leu-enkephalin) and their receptor was already known in 1975. Further investigations confirmed the existence of opiates (endorphins) in brain, pituitary gland, spinal cord and other tissues. Endorphins may exert various effects: analgesic (especially dynorphin and b-endorphin), antidiuretic, depressive on respiratory center, constipative, they also cause physical and mental dependence. These peptides, which are not known thoroughly may play a big part in the regulation of many biochemical and hemodynamic processes. Many of these mechanisms are already described and changes in concentrations of endorphins, for example in patients with silent myocardial ischaemia, are basic in the pathogenesis of this disease. Many of these mechanisms are controversial, the role of endogenous opiates in pathogenesis of hypertension or congestive heart failure is still unknown. This study summerizes the present knowledge endorphins and tries to answer whether changes in the concentration of endorphins are primary or secondary to the biochemical and hemodynamic disturbances in 2 diseases.