Enzymatic degradation of neuropeptide FF and SQA-neuropeptide FF in the mouse brain

Degradation of neuropeptide FF (NPFF) and SQA-neuropeptide FF (SQA-NPFF) by mouse brain sections was investigated by using capillary electrophoresis w ith UV detection for the separation and the identification of the degradati on products. The half disappearance time of SQA-NPFF was 2-fold greater tha n that of NPFF. NPFF was cleaved preferentially into an inactive metabolite , Gln-Arg-Phe-NH,, in the cerebrum slices. SQA-NPFF was hydrolyzed by an un identified degrading activity to generate NPFF, and NPFF accounted for a la rger part of SQA-NPFF degradation in the hindbrain and cervical spinal cord than in the cerebrum slices. These findings suggest that, depending on the brain regions, NPFF produced from SQA-NPFF could prolong the biologic effe cts of SQA-NPFF. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.