Effects of thermal peptides on retention of footshock avoidance training in mice

Some hydrophobic polypeptides known as thermal proteins have been found to have neurotrophic effects. Thermal proteins were synthesized from aspartic acid, glutamic acid, proline, and tryptophan. Two hydrophobic and one nonhydrophobic polymers were injected intracerebroventricularly into brains of mice after partial training on footshock avoidance run in a T-maze. When retention was tested 1 week later, the hydrophobic polymers enhanced retention while the nonhydrophobic polymer did not. Thermal proteins exhibiting hydrophobicity and having neurotrophic effects may aid in altering synaptic connections by facilitating cell recognition.