| Abstract: | The influence of short protein fragments on immobilization stress-induced alterations in neuroendocrine and immune systems (catecholamine content in the striatum, hypothalamus and adrenals, serum corticosterone concentration, specific antibody producing activity) was investigated. Immunoglobulin G fragments--tuftsin, rigin, polar amino acid set--polarin and thymus hormone fragment--thymopoetin, as well as substance P (as reference drug) were administered intraperitoneally at doses of 100 and 500 micrograms/kg 30 min before exposure to stress. Rigin and thymopentin showed high stress-protective activity. It is suggested that similar protein fragments, being endogenously formed, may play a regulating role in neuroimmunological homeostasis during exposure to stress. |
