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    Science. 1995 Jun 9;268(5216):1506-9.

    Chemical characterization of a family of brain lipids that induce sleep.

    Source

    Department of Chemistry, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92307, USA.

    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.

    PMID:
    7770779
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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