Investigation of the spectrum of physiological activities of the heptapeptide semax, an ACTH4-10 analogue

  • Levitskaya, N. G.
  • Glazova, N. Yu.
  • Sebentsova, E. A.
  • Manchenko, D. M.
  • Vilensky, D. A.
  • Andreeva, L. A.
  • Kamensky, A. A.
  • Myasoedov, N. F.

  • 1Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, pl. Akademika Kurchatova 46, Moscow 123182, Russia

    2Biological faculty, Moscow State University, Vorob'evy Gory, Moscow 119992, Russia

e-mail: [email protected]

Received: 20 September 2007/Published online: 3 April 2008

Original Russian Text © N.G. Levitskaya, N.Yu. Glazova, E.A. Sebentsova, D.M. Manchenko, D.A. Vilensky, L.A. Andreeva, A.A. Kamensky, N.F. Myasoedov, 2008, published in Neirokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 25, Nos. 1-2, pp. 111-118.

Neurochemical Journal 2(2):p 95-101, June 2008. | DOI: 10.1007/s11710-008-1018-0

Abstract

Physiological effects of Semax (MEHFPGP), a heptapeptide analogue of ACTH4-10, were studied. This peptide has been shown to have no hormonal activity, but to preserve a significant portion of the neurotropic effects of native melanocortins. Semax has nootropic, neuroprotective, anxiolytic, antidepressant, and analgesic effects and influences development of the central nervous system. These effects of Semax could be based both on an increased content of neurotrophic factors in the brain and on activation of the brain system of biogenic amines.

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