Abstract
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.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Brain Chemistry*
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Cats
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Cerebrosides / cerebrospinal fluid*
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Cerebrosides / chemistry
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Cerebrosides / pharmacology
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Humans
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Lipids / cerebrospinal fluid*
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Lipids / chemistry
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Lipids / pharmacology
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Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
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Mass Spectrometry
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Molecular Weight
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Oleic Acids / cerebrospinal fluid*
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Oleic Acids / chemistry
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Oleic Acids / pharmacology
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Rats
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Signal Transduction
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Sleep* / drug effects
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Spectrometry, Mass, Fast Atom Bombardment
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Spectrophotometry, Infrared
Substances
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Cerebrosides
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Lipids
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Oleic Acids
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oleylamide