Hypnotic effects of deoxycorformycin in rats.

Rats implanted with EEG and EMG electrodes were treated with deoxycoformycin (0.5 or 2.0 mg/kg, i.p.), and polygraphically recorded for 6 h. Deoxycoformycin is a potent inhibitor of adenosine deaminase and would be expected to elevate the levels of adenosine in the central nervous system. The 0.5 mg/kg dose of the drug increased REM sleep and reduced REM sleep latency while the dose of 2.0 mg/kg increased deep slow-wave sleep (S2). These results appear to be consistent with those reported previously for the adenosine analog, N6-(L-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (L-PIA) and indicate a hypnotic role for adenosine.