What is DSIP? (Short description)
Delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) is a multifunctional regulatory peptide. It was first isolated from cerebral venous blood of rabbits in an induced state of sleep in 1974 by the Swiss Schoenenberger-Monnier group. Although usually used for sleep, another important clinical indication for DSIP is its use in the treatment and care for patients suffering from chronic pain and/or depression.
For years after its discovery, the functions of the DSIP peptide were actively investigated. The effect of DSIP on the induction of slow-wave sleep and sleep-related growth hormone release was shown consequently in the work of Iyer et al. (1988). Not shortly thereafter, another study showed that the absence of the effect of DSIP in the formation of sleep was shown when injected into the nucleus raphe dorsalis of rats.
A wide range of studies conducted to identify the biological activities of DSIP showed that endogenous DSIP or DSIP-like peptides have regulatory activity and play an important role in endocrine regulation. Thus, it has been shown that DSIP reduces the basal level of corticotropin and stimulates the secretion of luteinizing hormone and the release of somatoliberin and somatotropin.
All of this being said, DSIP has a wide range of physiological activities, some of which are not related to each other which is why it makes such a great, versatile peptide product.
What is DSIP and How Does It Work?
“Delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) is a naturally occurring substance, which was originally isolated from rabbit brain in 1977. This curious substance is a nonapeptide that is normally synthesized in the hypothalamus and targets multiple sites including some within the brainstem. As its name suggests DSIP promotes sleep, and this has been demonstrated in rabbits, mice, rats, cats and human beings. In fact, DSIP promotes a particular type of sleep which is characterized by an increase in the delta rhythm of the EEG.”
“DSIP is normally present in minute amounts in the blood. Brain and plasma DSIP concentrations exhibit a marked diurnal variation and there has been shown to be a correlation between DSIP plasma concentrations and circadian rhythm in human beings. Concentrations are low in the mornings and higher in the afternoons. An elevation of endogenous DSIP concentration has been shown to be associated with suppression of both slow-wave sleep and rapid-eye-movement sleep and interestingly also with body temperature.”
“Plasma concentrations of DSIP are influenced by the initiation of sleep. Patients with Cushing’s syndrome suffer from a lack of slow-wave sleep but the diurnal variation in slow-wave and rapid-eye-movement sleep in those patients appears to be similar to that in normal patients.”
“When compared with most other peptides, DSIP is unusual in that it can freely cross the blood–brain barrier and is readily absorbed from the gut without being denatured by enzymes. DSIP is present in relatively high concentrations in human milk (10–30 ng mL–1). Any mother who has breast-fed her babies will attest to the ability of a feed to induce sleep. However, a feed of artificial milk may have a similar effect, and it is not known whether DSIP concentrations are related to the sleep–wake cycle in human neonates.”
Based on literature, DSIP has been shown to:
• Help induce better sleep
• Relieve emotional and psychological responses to stress
• More energy
• Enhance mood
• Reduce chronic pain
