Sleep-promoting effects of intraperitoneally administered uridine in unrestrained rats.

An intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 nmol uridine in rats resulted in a transient excess slow-wave sleep if administered shortly before onset of the dark period. The sleep latency was remarkably shortened. A small dose (0.01 nmol) and larger doses (1, 10, 100 nmol) caused no effect. Uridine at a dose of 0.1 nmol was entirely ineffective if injected shortly before onset of the light period, while it resulted in transient excess paradoxical sleep if injected at an early phase of the light period. It is concluded that uridine, if timely administered through a systemic route, may pass the blood-brain barrier to modulate sleep in rats.