[Protein and RNA concentration in the supraoptic nucleus of the rat brain during sleep induced by delta-hypnogenic peptide].

It has been shown that specific sleep induced by suboccipital injection of a synthetic delta-hypnogen peptide (delta-sleep inducing peptide, according to M. Monnier) is not accompanied in rats by accumulation of proteins and RNA in the supraoptic nuclear glia--the anabolic process characteristic for natural sleep. At the same time, during this artificial sleep protein concentration in the cytoplasm of the neurones in this nucleus increased due to the corresponding reduction of cytoplasmic volume which is absent during natural sleep. These phenomena, observed during the sleep induced by delta-hypnogen peptide, are similar to those described during phylogenetically more ancient type of rest, i. e. cataleptiform immobility, which is typical of the lower vertebrates only.