[Opiate receptors and endogenous morphinelike peptides in the brain]

In the review the authors describe the basic achievements in the given field: the discovery of receptors of opiates, localized on the cellular membrane of the neurone; investigation of their topographic distribution at various zones of the central nervous system: the discovery of endogenous ligands for opiate receptors-enkephalins and endorphins; distinction of two systems of opiate receptors in the central nervous system--enkephalinic and beta-endorphinic; a study on the relationships between endogenous morphines and other neuropeptides and neurotransmiters and neuromodulators; investigations on the connections between endorphins and cyclic nucleotides. The authors discuss briefly the proposed hypothesis about the function of the opiate receptors and endogenous morphines in normal and pathologic states.