A novel pentadecapeptide, BPC 157, blocks the stereotypy produced acutely by amphetamine and the development of haloperidol-induced supersensitivity to amphetamine.
BACKGROUND
A novel gastric pentadecapeptide, BPC 157, has been shown to attenuate different lesions (i.e., gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, somatosensory neurons). This suggests an interaction with the dopamine system. When used alone, BPC 157 does not affect gross behavior or induce stereotypy.


METHODS
We first investigated the effect of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on stereotypy and acoustic startle response in rats, given as either a prophylactic (10 micrograms/kg i.p.) or therapeutic (10 ng/kg i.p.) regimen, with the dopamine indirect agonist amphetamine (10 mg/kg i.p.).


RESULTS
There was a marked attenuation of stereotypic behavior and acoustic startle response. When the medication was given at the time of maximum amphetamine-induced excitability, there was a reversal of this behavior. A further focus was on the effect of this pentadecapeptide on increased climbing behavior in mice pretreated with the dopamine antagonist haloperidol (5.0 mg/kg i.p.), and subsequently treated with amphetamine (20 mg/kg i.p. challenge 1, 2, 4, and 10 days after haloperidol pretreatment). This protocol is usually used for the study of behavioral supersensitivity to the amphetamine stimulating effect.


CONCLUSIONS
An almost complete reversal was noted when pentadecapeptide was coadministered with haloperidol. Together, these data provide compelling evidence for the interaction of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 with the dopamine system.
Jelovac
N
N
Department of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty University of Zagreb, Croatia.
Sikirić
P
P
Rucman
R
R
Petek
M
M
Perović
D
D
Konjevoda
P
P
Marović
A
A
Seiwerth
S
S
Grabarević
Z
Z
Sumajstorcić
J
J
Dodig
G
G
Perić
J
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011506:Proteins; C083833:BPC 157; D000661:Amphetamine; D006220:Haloperidol