[Peptidergic modulation of sleep: a comparative study of analogs of the peptide DSIP]

Effects of intracerebroventricular administration of 3 DSIP analogues with higher stability against proteolysis, on subsequent sleep were studied in rabbits and rats previously implanted with electrodes and cannulas. Significant increase of total sleep time (mainly due to slow wave sleep) after administration of the peptides (D-Trp1) DSIP and (D-Tyr1) DSIP as compared with the control injections to the same animals was found during the first 3-5 hours in rabbits and 12 hours in rats. Shortened analogue (D-Trp1) DSIP1-6 had no effect on rabbit sleep and significantly reduced slow wave sleep in rats during the first 3 hours. It is concluded that some DSIP-like peptides which are more stable against aminopeptidases, can modulate rodent sleep.