[Use of substance P fragments in experimental treatment of alcoholism]

Experiments on unbred male mice demonstrated qualitative differences in the pharmacological effect of substance P fragments (P1-4 and P5-11) injected intraperitoneally in a dose of 250 mcg/kg. Fragments P1-4 and P1-4 dodecylamide on the one hand, had a positive effect on the level of motivation which was displayed by lesser consumption of alcohol by the animals, and, on the other, possessed immunocorrective properties manifested by restoration of macrophage phagocytic activity and immune response to sheep erythrocytes, which were impaired by chronic alcoholic intoxication. Fragment P5-11 had no effect on alcoholic motivation and produced a directly contrary action on the immune system, it inhibited the formation of antibody-forming cells.