[Influence of Semax on the emotional state of white rats in the norm and against the background of cholecystokinin-tetrapeptide action].
Levitskaia. N G NG; Vilenskiĭ. D A DA; Sebentsova. E A EA; Anreeva. L A LA; Kamenskiĭ. A A AA; Miasoedov. N F NF
Key Findings
- Semax alone had no impact on anxiety or depression in healthy rats
- CCK‑4 injection caused clear increases in anxiety and depressive‑like behavior
- Pre‑treatment with Semax blocked the CCK‑4‑induced anxiety and depression
Practical Outcomes
- Semax might be useful for counteracting stress‑related anxiety or low mood, but the evidence is limited to an animal model and uses doses much higher than typical human use. Biohackers should view this as a hint rather than a proven protocol and await human data before adding it for everyday mood support.
Summary
In a rat study, giving the peptide Semax by nose didn’t change normal mood, but when the animals were made anxious and depressed with another compound, Semax stopped those bad effects, acting like an anti‑anxiety and anti‑depression agent under stress.
Abstract
The effects of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH(4-10)) analog, Semax (MEHFPGP), on the level of anxiety and depression in white rats have been studied in the normal state and against the background of cholecystokinin-tetrapeptide (CCK-4) action. Semax was injected intranasally in doses of 50 and 500 microg/kg 15 min before the testing. CCK-4 was administered intraperitoneally in a dose of 400 microg/kg 40 min before the testing. The level of anxiety was estimated in the elevated plus-maze test, and the degree of depression, in the forced swimming test. Semax administration did not influence the emotional state of animals in the normal state. The CCK-4 injection led to an increase in anxiety and depression in rats. Semax normalized the animal behavior disturbed by the CCK-4 administration, which attests to its anxiolytic and antidepressant effects at elevated levels of anxiety and depression.
Study Information
pubmed
2010