Content of DSIP, enkephalins and ACTH in some tissues of active and hibernating ground squirrels (Citellus suslicus).
Kramarova. L I LI; Kolaeva. S H SH; Rozhanets. V V VV
Key Findings
- DSIP‑like material in the brain varies seasonally in ground squirrels.
- During deep hibernation, enkephalin‑like material increases while ACTH‑like material decreases.
Practical Outcomes
- For DIY health enthusiasts, the study hints that DSIP may interact with the body's opioid pathways to promote very deep sleep, but it offers no direct dosing or protocol advice for humans. Until human data are available, any attempts to combine DSIP with opioid‑modulating strategies remain speculative.
Summary
In ground squirrels, the amount of a sleep‑related peptide (DSIP‑like) changes with the seasons, and during deep hibernation the brain shows more opiate‑like activity (more enkephalin, less ACTH). The researchers think this opiate system helps start hibernation.
Abstract
Seasonal changes in the amount of DSIP-like material have been measured in extracts from the brain of Citellus suslicus. 2. Analysis of extracts from the brain of deeply sleeping ground squirrels shows that the level of enkephalin-like material reliably increases while that of ACTH-like material decreases. 3. It is concluded that the opiate brain activation system is among the factors participating in the induction of hibernation in ground squirrels.
Study Information
pubmed
1983
10.1016/0742-8413(83)90143-3
36
6