[Thyroliberin: new physiological effects and prospects of clinical use]

In addition to the well-known activities of TRH (stimulation of respiration, antidepressant action, increase of motility, antishock action, therapeutic effects against ataxia, and so forth), some new properties were established. TRH was found (1) to stimulate the contractility of lymph vessels in ultra-low doses and to be useful in the treatment of acute pancreatitis; (2) to normalize cerebral circulation in rats and neonates after asphyxia; (3) to improve the electrophysiological parameters of the retina and pigmented epithelium in rats and man, to exert a long-term positive influence on the health status of patients suffering from senile retinal macular dystrophy; (4) to potentiate the analgesic effect of low doses of morphine in a definite range of doses (analog PR-546). It is of paramount importance that most of the indicated activities of TRH may hold promise for clinical application.