ACUTE AND DELAYED-EFFECTS OF DSIP (DELTA-SLEEP-INDUCING PEPTIDE) ON HUMAN SLEEP BEHAVIOR

Abstract

A 1st study of DSIP (= synthetic delta sleep-inducing peptide) application to humans was carried out in 6 normal volunteers (4 males and 2 females) under extensive psychophysiologic observations and measurements in a double-blind cross-over design. DSIP was applied as slow i.v. infusions at a dosage of 25 nmol/kg in the morning. The subjects immediately reported a feeling of sleep pressure, and sleep increased by 59% (median of total sleep time) within a 130-min interval after the treatment as compared with placebo. Delayed effects on subsequent night sleep were shorter sleep onset, reduced percentage of stage 1 and better sleep efficiency. Nevertheless, sophisticated behavioral and EEG analyses revealed no classic pharmacologic sedation. Evidently, DSIP in humans is also efficacious by sustaining natural sleep functions. The compound was well-tolerated and no psychologic, physiologic or biochemical side effects were observed.