Effect of the Pro-Gly-Pro peptide on resistance of rats to acute hypobaric hypoxia and posthypoxic behavioral disorders

Abstract

Outbred white rats were subjected to acute hypobaric hypoxia in an altitude chamber at a reduced pressure of 145 mm Hg. Parameters of behavioral activity were evaluated in the tests of elevated cross maze and hole chamber and by the Porsolt method. Posthypoxic behavioral changes were characterized by an increase in the level of anxiety and depression and by a decrease in the level of orienting and exploratory activity. Preliminary intraperitoneal administration of the peptide 15 min before the hypoxia at a dose of 3.7 mol/kg increased the coefficient of individual resistance of the animals owing to a decrease in restitution time and significantly decreased posthypoxic behavioral disorders. We previously found that the Pro-Gly-Pro peptide had positive influence on homeostasis and maintained an adequate blood supply to organs and tissues. It was proposed that this ability of the Pro-Gly-Pro peptide could be one of the important mechanisms for its protective antihypoxic effect.