DSIP
Also referenced as: Delta sleep-inducing peptide
A nonapeptide isolated from rabbit brain in the 1970s, still discussed for sleep despite inconsistent evidence.
- Evidence grade
- DPreclinical Research
Preclinical Research
- Regulatory status
- Not FDA Approved
- Human data
- Limited
No registered clinical trials identified
- Last reviewed
- September 1, 2026
Overview
DSIP was isolated from the cerebral venous blood of sleeping rabbits and named for its apparent ability to induce delta-wave sleep.
Subsequent human work produced inconsistent results, and the compound never entered clinical use. It remains a good case study in how an evocative name outlives the evidence.
Why It's Being Studied
- Sleep architecture and delta-wave activity.
- Chronic pain and withdrawal syndromes in older clinical reports.
- Stress hormone and circadian regulation.
Mechanism of Action
It was found in the blood of sleeping animals and appeared to promote deep sleep, though later studies did not confirm a reliable effect.
Mechanistic proposals include modulation of somatostatin and corticotropin-releasing hormone signalling, effects on delta-wave EEG activity, and interaction with opioid and stress-axis pathways. No receptor has been definitively identified.
The sleep cycle
Tap each stage to see what happens.
Background: Sleep Research
Sleep research measures sleep stages with polysomnography and asks whether a signal changes how quickly people fall asleep, how deeply they sleep, or how rested they feel.
Early sleep-peptide research dates back decades and has never produced consistent, replicated human results.
Research Areas & Routes Studied
- Sleep architecture
- Stress hormones
- Pain
- Subcutaneous injection (research)
- Intravenous (older clinical studies)
Evidence Summary
Older human studies exist but are small, inconsistent and decades old; the bulk of the literature is animal and mechanistic.
Higher tiers carry more weight. Filled tiers have evidence for DSIP; tap to read it.
- Small studies from the 1980s and 1990s reported effects on sleep latency and chronic pain; results were inconsistent and not replicated in modern trials.
1 cited sources.
- Narrative review1
Human clinical evidence
- Small studies from the 1980s and 1990s reported effects on sleep latency and chronic pain; results were inconsistent and not replicated in modern trials.
Animal studies
- EEG and behavioural studies in rodents and rabbits.
Anecdotal / community information
- Community sleep reports are uncontrolled and subject to strong placebo effects.
Reported Adverse Events in Research
- Limited safety data; older studies reported few adverse events in small samples.
Limitations of Current Evidence
- Evidence is old, small and inconsistent.
- No established human dosing protocol exists.
How to Read This Research
- Was sleep measured in a lab or by self-report or wearable?
- Was the population healthy sleepers or people with diagnosed insomnia?
- Placebo effects in subjective sleep outcomes are substantial.
- Consumer wearables estimate sleep stages; they do not measure them directly.
- Polysomnography
- A lab sleep study measuring brain waves, breathing and movement.
- Sleep latency
- Time taken to fall asleep.
- Slow-wave sleep
- The deepest non-REM sleep stage.
Compare With Other Compounds
| DSIP | Semaglutide | |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence grade | D — Preclinical Research | A — Strong Clinical Evidence |
| Regulatory status | Not FDA Approved | FDA Approved for Specific Indication |
| Human data | Limited | Yes |
| Clinical trials | None identified | Registered trials exist |
| Research routes | Subcutaneous injection (research), Intravenous (older clinical studies) | Subcutaneous injection, Oral tablet (approved form) |
| Cited sources | 1 | 4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why It Is Used
- Sleep
Sleep Onset and Sleep Depth
Delta sleep-inducing peptide has the most promising name and some of the thinnest evidence on this site. That contrast is instructive.
Read the case study
Research References
- Narrative review
Delta sleep-inducing peptide: physiological and clinical studies