A cholecystokinin-like peptide in crude substance P from human and bovine brain.

The subfractions of crude substance P (SP), Fa, Fb, and Fc, were assayed for SP-like activity (SP-LA) and cholecystokinin octapeptide-like activity (CCK-8-LA) using radioimmunoassays (RIAs) and bioassays. Crude SP preparations from total human and bovine brains, cortex, and subcortex (amygdala, substantia nigra) contain CCK-8-LA as well as SP-LA. Most of SP-LA was contained in Fb, whereas most of CCK-8-LA was in Fc. Fa gave ambiguous results. Pharmacological results previously obtained with Fc may reflect the activity of CCK-like peptide(s).