Study summary · research use only
Effects of intranasal administration of epitalon on neuron activity in the rat neocortex
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
In this rat study, the synthetic tetrapeptide epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), based on an epiphyseal peptide extract, was given by intranasal administration, described as a noninvasive route to the CNS. Male Wistar rats were anesthetized with urethane (1 g/kg), and extracellular cortical neuron activity was recorded with a glass microelectrode (1-2 MOmega). After 10-15 min of baseline recording, intranasal epitalon (30 ng per animal) was followed by recording up to 30 min. The authors report significant activation of neuron activity within minutes, with discharge frequency increased by factors of 2-2.5, and a multiphasic response with peaks at 5-7 min, 11-12 min, and 17-18 min. The increase was attributed to higher firing of already-active neurons and recruitment of previously silent neurons, with the first peak attributed to direct action on cortical cells.
Abstract
This report discusses the properties of the synthetic tetrapeptide epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly), synthesized on the basis of an epiphyseal peptide extract. Intranasal administration of epitalon was selected as a noninvasive means of applying the agent to the CNS by bypassing the blood-brain barrier. The aim of the present work was to assess the characteristics of the action of epitalon on the frequency of spontaneous neuron activity in the cerebral cortex of white rats. Studies were performed using male Wistar rats anesthetized with urethane (1 g/kg). Extracellular activity of cortical neurons was recorded with a glass microelectrode of resistance 1-2 MOmega. Recording of spontaneous neuron discharges for 10-15 min was followed by intranasal administration of epitalon solution and recording of neuron activity to 30 min after doses of 30 ng per animal. Significant activation of neuron activity was seen several minutes after dosage, with an increase (by factors of 2-2.5) in discharge frequency. In some experiments, the effect of epitalon was multiphasic. The first peak of increased neuron discharge frequency at 5-7 min was followed by peaks at 11-12 and 17-18 min. The increase in discharge frequency occurred because of an increase in the discharge frequency of neurons which were already active and the recruitment of previously silent neurons. At least the first peak of increased neuron activity following exposure to epitalon was found to be associated with the direct action of the peptide on cortical cells.
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