Chemical Characterization of a Family of Brain Lipids That Induce Sleep
Abstract
A molecule isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of sleep-deprived cats has been chemically characterized and identified as cis-9,10-octadecenoamide. Other fatty acid primary amides in addition to cis-9,10-octadecenoamide were identified as natural constituents of the cerebrospinal fluid of cat, rat, and human, indicating that these compounds compose a distinct family of brain lipids. Synthetic cis-9,10-octadecenoamide induced physiological sleep when injected into rats. Together, these results suggest that fatty acid primary amides may represent a previously unrecognized class of biological signaling molecules.
- Publication:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- June 1995
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.7770779
- Bibcode:
- 1995Sci...268.1506C