Scopolamine-induced suppression of paradoxical sleep is reversed by the somatostatin analogue SMS 201–995 in rats

The intraperitoneal administration of the octapeptide somatostatin analogue SMS 201–995 produced a significant increase in paradoxical sleep (PS) in rats. The suppression of PS by the muscarinic receptor blocker scopolamine was reversed by SMS 201–995. These findings confirm previous results demonstrating a role of somatostatin in the generation of PS. In addition they suggest that the suppression of PS by scopolamine may be due to an inhibitory effect on somatostatin release, rather than to an alteration of cholinergic function alone.