Effects of N-uronoyl derivatives of neurotransmitter amino acids on rats under conditions of behavioral tests

Under conditions of a few behavioral tests on rats, we examined the psychotropic activity of novel N-uronoyl derivatives of amino acids: (i) N-(1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galactopyranuronoyl-β-alanine (DAGU-Ala), (ii) DAGU-glycyl-D,L-glutamic acid (DAGU-Gly-Glu), and (iii) DAGU-glycyl-glycine (DAGU-Gly-Gly) injected i.p. in a 50 mg/kg dose. In an open-field test, DAGU-Gly-Glu and DAGU-GLy-Gly showed antistress properties (they decreased the intensity of locomotion, decreased the number of defecation acts, and intensified the research activity), while DAGU-Ala possessed a psychostimulating effect (intensification of locomotor and research activity and an increase in the number of defecations). In the “black-and-white chamber” test, only DAGU-Gly-Gly exerted an anxiolytic effect; it somewhat increased the frequency and duration of emergings of animals from the dark section and duration of visits to the illuminated section of the chamber. DAGU-GLy-Glu manifested antidepressant properties; it increased the time of active swimming of the animal in the Porsolt test and decreased the duration of passive “hanging” of rats in the “suspension by the tail” test. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 52–61, January–February, 2007.