This review deals with a new trend in neuroscience research for study- ing the functional activities and morphological pathways of certain neuro- transmitters

especially the peptide transmitters in the CNS.The achieve- ments of the studies in different fields using antibodies directed to synaptic membrane fraction

S-100 protein

GM_1-ganglioside

cholinergic receptors

various brain peptides and different enzymes involved in biosynthesis of neurotransmitters

as well as the technical problems and the pitfalls of this method in practical experimentation

are briefly reviewed.A brief summary of the authors' recent study using antibodies directed to enkeph- alins

β-endorphin and substance P to evaluate the role played by these neuropeptides in acupuncture analgesia are being presented.