Research Area
Cognitive & Neuro Research
Cognitive and neuropeptide research focuses on compounds that modulate neurotrophic signaling, neurotransmitter release, sleep architecture, and mitochondrial bioenergetics within central nervous system tissue.
Research Use Only. All content on this page is for educational purposes. Compounds discussed are supplied solely for laboratory and research use. Where the active ingredient overlaps with an approved medication of the same name, the research compound is not the same product as any FDA-approved formulation containing the same active ingredient.
The heptapeptide neurotrophins selank and semax — both originally characterized in Russian neuropharmacology literature — act through distinct mechanisms despite their short sequence lengths. Selank is associated with GABAergic and BDNF-related signaling pathways; semax acts via melanocortin receptors and BDNF/CNTF expression. Both are commonly studied in their N-acetyl forms for stability.
DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide) is a nine-amino-acid peptide whose name reflects its first-identified electrophysiological effect on slow-wave sleep, though current research extends to its effects on stress-response axes and circadian patterns.
Methylene blue and SS-31, while distinct from the peptide compounds above, are frequently included in CNS research collections for their roles in mitochondrial electron transport and cardiolipin protection respectively. Both have characterized pharmacokinetic and analytical profiles suitable for reference-standard work.
Compounds in this area
NA-Selank: Tuftsin Analog Research Overview
NA-Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide developed at the Russian Institute of Molecular Genetics as a stabilized analog of the endogenous tetrapeptide tuftsin. The compound is among the Russian peptide pharmacology research class and has been studied in preclinical neuropeptide signaling research. This page summarizes the published literature.
Read research overview →
NA-Semax: ACTH(4-10) Heptapeptide Analog Research Overview
NA-Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide based on the 4-10 fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), modified for enhanced stability. The compound was developed by the Russian neuropeptide research community as a research tool for examining nootropic and neuropeptide signaling pathways. This page summarizes the published preclinical literature.
Read research overview →
DSIP: Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide Research Overview
DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide) is a 9-amino acid neuropeptide that was originally isolated in 1977 from the cerebral venous blood of rabbits during periods of EEG delta-wave activity. The compound has been studied across decades of research as a tool for examining sleep-related neuropeptide signaling and broader neuromodulatory functions. This page summarizes the published preclinical research.
Read research overview →
Methylene Blue: Phenothiazine Redox Compound Research Overview
Methylene Blue is a synthetic phenothiazine compound with a long history in chemistry and biology dating to 1876, when Heinrich Caro first synthesized it. The compound has unique redox properties that have made it valuable across multiple research contexts: as a histological stain, as a redox indicator, and as a probe of mitochondrial electron transport. This page summarizes the published research applications.
Read research overview →
SS-31: Mitochondrial-Targeted Tetrapeptide Research Overview
SS-31 (also known as Elamipretide, Bendavia, or MTP-131) is a synthetic tetrapeptide from the Szeto-Schiller class of mitochondrial-targeted peptides. Its defining property is selective accumulation in mitochondria via affinity for cardiolipin, a phospholipid found in the inner mitochondrial membrane. This page summarizes the published preclinical research.
Read research overview →
Related research areas
This page references compounds by their International Nonproprietary Name (INN) — the scientific designation used in PubMed and FDA literature. Brand-name medications are not referenced. All compounds are supplied as research-grade reference standards for laboratory and analytical use only.