Cognitive and neurological research
DSIP
Also known as Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide
A nonapeptide first isolated from rabbit brain in 1977, studied for its association with sleep architecture.
What it is
DSIP is a nine-amino-acid peptide first identified in the cerebral venous blood of rabbits during induced sleep, which is where its name comes from. It crosses the blood-brain barrier and has been detected in a range of tissues, though its precise physiological role is still debated.
What published research examines
- Slow-wave sleep and sleep architecture in animal and early human studies
- Interaction with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
- Stress response and corticotropin regulation
- Circadian signalling
Where the research stands
DSIP has been studied since the 1970s, though findings across studies have varied and its mechanism is not fully characterised.