[Neuro- and psychotropic activity of N-uronoylamino acids and N-uronoylpeptides]

Peculiarities of rat behavior were studied on a series of experimental stress models after systemic administration of new N-uronoyl derivatives of amino acids. The psychotropic effect was shown to be determined by the nature of the amino acid fragment. N-(l,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-galactopyranuronoyl)-glycylglycine exhibited a more pronounced anxiolytic effect than pyracetam, whereas N-(l,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-galactopyranuronoyl)-glycylglutamic acid is a stronger antidepressant than amitriptyline. Mechanisms of the psychotropic effects of the examined derivatives are discussed.