INHIBITION OF INVIVO H-3-SPIPERONE BINDING BY THE PROPOSED ANTIPSYCHOTIC DES-TYR1-GAMMA-ENDORPHIN

The proposed antipsychotic neuropeptide des-tyrosine1-γ-endorphin (DTγE, βLPH62-77) inhibits in vivo 3H-spiperone binding in the hypothalamus, corpus striatum and mesolimbic areas of rat brain. The neuroleptic drug haloperidol produced similar effects in these areas as well as in frontal cortex, but is considerably more potent than DTγE. Correspondingly, haloperidol produces postural and motor abnormalities not seen with DYγE. These data together with the results from previous in vitro studies suggest DTγE might act indirectly, having a selective neuroleptic-like action at 3H-spiperone binding sites. © 1979.