[Clinical and experimental studies of the dynamic changes in neuropeptides after trauma]

Dynamic changes of contents of beta-endorphin, leu-enkephalin and oxytocin in plasma were determined in seventeen fracture patients with shock, fascial space syndromes, or infection postoperation. There was significant rise of contents in beta-endorphin and leu-enkephalin but not in oxytocin after trauma, Of those accompanied by infection postoperation, beta-endorphin and oxytocin remained high. The contents of beta-endorphin and enkephalin decreased gradually in non-infectious group, but were still higher than normal. The most obvious change was seen in beta-endorphin, suggesting that beta-endorphin plays a more important role in trauma. This was also confirmed in rat injury model.