Some observations indicating a low brain uptake of [3H]Nle11-Substance P

The studies concerning the problem of whether an exogenous neuropeptide is able to enter the brain tissue were extended to the undecapeptide Substance P (SP). The amount of radioactivity 15 s after intracarotid injection of [3H] Nle11-SP or [14C] inulin was determined in 18 brain regions and the anterior pituitary of male rats. As compared to the reference [14C] inulin (mean +/- SD: 0.143 +/- 0.009% of the injected radioactivity per g tissue wet weight), the amount of radioactivity was higher after [3H]Nle11-SP injection (0.233 +/- 0.039%, p less than 0.001). Statistically significant differences could be found particularly in cortical and caudal areas as well as in the circumventricular organs studied. These observations do not refute the assumption that a low brain uptake of the labelled neuropeptide occurred due to an accumulation within structures of the blood-brain barrier and/or a penetration of the barrier system.