[Peptide hydrolase activity of different sections of the rat brain]

The protamine-splitting peptid hydrolase activity method was modified for using when analyzing the different areas of the rat brain. The tissue weight was 15-40 mg, only 3.5 mg was sufficient for investigation in a test tube. The indexes of neutral peptide hydrolase activity differed thrice and were arranged as follows: auditory and optic cortex--41, cerebellum--60, hypothalamic area and corpus striatum--69, hippocamp--89, corpora quadrigemina--92, pyramides and pons--120, medula--121, and thalamus--122, The deprivation of REM-sleep for 24 and 48 hours or total sleep deprivation for 24 hours did not cause changes in the peptide-hydrolase activity of the investigated brain areas.