Effect of intranigral dosage with delta-sleep-inducing peptide and its analogs on movement and convulsive activity in rats.

Studies were carried out in rats on the effects of the administration of delta-sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) and its analogs (1-4) into the reticular part of the substantia nigra on movement and convulsive activity. Intranigral microinjection of DSIP, and of DSIP-1 and DSIP-4, reduced horizontal and vertical movement activity as well as excursions to the center of the open field. DSIP, DSIP-2, and DSIP-3 had anticonvulsant effects, consisting of increases in the latent periods of the first convulsion and clonicotonic convulsions induced by picrotoxin, and reductions in the mean intensity of convulsions.