Overview
DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide) is a nonapeptide (Trp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Asp-Ala-Ser-Gly-Glu) first identified in cerebroventricular fluid of sleep-deprived rabbits in the 1970s.
Mechanism
Its precise receptor target remains unsettled. Reported effects include increased delta-wave activity on EEG, modulation of circadian rhythms, and altered ACTH and stress-hormone profiles. DSIP frequently appears in animal models of sleep architecture and stress adaptation rather than human pharmacology.
Notes for the lab
DSIP is water-soluble; reconstitute in bacteriostatic water and refrigerate. The molecule is sensitive to repeated freeze-thaw and to oxidation of the tryptophan residue.