Peptides from the pituitary gland and cortex stimulate differentiation of polypotent embryonic tissue.

We studied the effects of synthetic peptides from the pituitary gland and brain cortex on differentiation of polypotent ectodermal tissue of the early gastrula of Xenopus laevis. It was shown that the pituitary gland peptide stimulates differentiation of polypotent tissue into epidermis and nerve tissue, while brain cortex peptide induces the development of mesenchyma and epidermis. Differentiation of polypotent tissue under the effect of the peptide is a mechanism of their geroprotective effect and suggests that they are promising as preparations for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.