The influence of a single injection of "delta-sleep-inducing peptide" (DSIP; 30 microg/kg body weight) on neurochemical parameters of rats' brain was studied under the conditions of chronic administration of dopamine analogs inducing DA-system hyperactivity - 50 mg/kg body weight of L-DOPA for 30 days or 2,5 mg/kg body weight of amphetamine for 21 days. The parameters of serotonergic system (MAO A activity, 5-HT, and 5-HIAA contents) and of dopaminergic system (MAO B activity, DA, NA, and HVA contents) were investigated in the cortex and caudate nucleus of control, DA or amphetamine, and DSIP receiving rats. Changes caused by the two DA-system activating drugs had both similarities and differences, and the corrective action of DSIP also had certain peculiarities depending on the pharmacological preparation used for the induction of DA-system hyperactivity and on the investigated brain structure. It is supposed that DSIP action might be based on the activation of serotonergic system that ensures the adaptive behavior of the animals.

Protein content was measured by interferometry in the cerebral neurons of August rats predisposed to emotional stress and Wistar rats resistant to it. Protein content was 16-18% lower in the neurons of the third and fourth layers of the sensorimotor cortex and 51% higher in the caudate nucleus neurons (cerebral subcortical nodes) of August latS than in Wistar rats. This indicates an inversion in protein distribution in the cortex and subcortex of August rats which are characterized by typical protein content in different types of neurons and apparently by peculiar cerebral structure and fimction.

Quantitative cytochemical assay showed that single injection of delta sleep-inducing peptide increased monoamine oxidase activity (substrates: serotonin and tryptamine) in the caudate and accumbens nuclei and glutamate dehydrogenase activity in the hippocampus of stress-resistant Wistar rats chronically treated with L-DOPA. Enzyme activities in the sensorimotor cortex did not change. Delta sleep-inducing peptide had no effects on acetylcholine esterase and aminopeptidase activities in the brain of Wistar rats.

The systemic injection of haloperidol (4 wk, 0.5 mg/kg/d) caused the increase of protein concentration and content, and the activity level of aminopeptidase in the cytoplasm of the neurons of associated type (layer III). The nucleus of these cells decreased both in sizes and in the content of proteins. In the neurons of efferent-projectory type (layer V), the decrease of studied peculiarities as compared with control level was observed. Tuftsin (300 micrograms/kg/d) injection after chronic haloperidol treatment causes the restoring action on changed parameters in sensomotor cortex. In caudate nucleus, tuftsin influence caused further reduction of neuron's cytoplasmic area and significant reduction in protein content. The received results testify to the morphobiochemical heterogenity of investigated brain structures, which is displayed both in the case of haloperidol treatment and in the case of its correction by neuropeptide tuftsin. Chronic haloperidol administration to animals can develop a model of certain symptoms and syndromes of parkinsonism. Its most pronounced manifestation is an imbalance in the neuromediator systems, especially the dopaminergic one (Mettler and Crandall, 1959; Colls, 1984; Funk et al., 1986). The research was performed in conjunction with the physiologists, whose experiments have shown that after chronic haloperidol administration, changes in animal behavior are developed that are typical for bradikinesia, and the motor regimen of integration is disturbed (Popova and Kachalova, 1991; Dovedova and Povova, 1993). Regulatory drugs, especially the tetrapeptide tuftsin, seem to correct such disturbances.

This paper reports interferometric studies of the contents and concentrations of proteins in the cellular structures of neurons of the sensorimotor cortex (layers III, V) and in the region of the caudate nucleus of the neostriatum (Golgi type II cells) in Wistar rats with high, intermediate, and low levels of ethanol preference. The greatest differences between groups of animals in terms of cell size and protein metabolism were seen in the cortex. Along with measures correlating with initial ethanol preference (cell body size, nucleus size, and cytoplasm size of cortical neurons, cytoplasmic protein content, etc.), a number of measures were found to show statistically significant differences which did not correlate with preference (nuclear protein contents and concentrations in cortical neurons of layers III and V). These data may suggest the existence of another significant measure responsible for the difference between the groups and, possibly, more closely correlated with the analytical-synthetic functions of the central nervous system.