Chemical Characterization of a Family of Brain Lipids That Induce Sleep

作者：Benjamin F. Cravatt, Oscar E. Prospero-Garcia, Gary E. Siuzdak, Norton B. Gilula, Steven J. Henriksen, Dale L. Boger, Richard Alan Lerner · 发表于：Science · 年份：1995 · DOI：10.1126/science.7770779 · 被引用次数：623 · 研究领域：Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research、Sleep and Wakefulness Research、GABA and Rice Research

A molecule isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of sleep-deprived cats has been chemically characterized and identified as cis-9,10-octadecenoamide. Other fatty acid primary amides in addition to cis-9,10-octadecenoamide were identified as natural constituents of the cerebrospinal fluid of cat, rat, and human, indicating that these compounds compose a distinct family of brain lipids. Synthetic cis-9,10-octadecenoamide induced physiological sleep when injected into rats. Together, these results suggest that fatty acid primary amides may represent a previously unrecognized class of biological signaling molecules.