Reinscheid Rainer K, Xu Yan-Ling, Civelli Olivier
Department of Pharmacology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA.
Mol Interv. 2005 Feb;5(1):42-6. doi: 10.1124/mi5.1.8.
Neuropeptide S (NPS) is a newly identified transmitter that modulates arousal and fear responses. NPS activates an orphan G protein-coupled receptor that is expressed throughout the central nervous system, including brain centers that regulate sleep/wakefulness and anxiety. In contrast, the NPS precursor mRNA is found only in a few discrete nuclei in the brainstem as well as in a few scattered cells in the hypothalamus and amygdala. The most prominent expression of NPS precursor is found in a previously uncharacterized cluster of neurons in the pontine area, located between the noradrenergic locus ceruleus and Barrington's nucleus. Central administration of NPS induces long-lasting arousal and suppresses all stages of sleep. In addition, NPS produces an anxiolytic profile in a variety of behavioral models. The unique pharmacological spectrum of NPS makes it an interesting target for pharmaceutical development. It also enhances our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms of sleep/wakefulness regulation and the neuronal processing of stress.
神经肽S（NPS）是一种新发现的递质，可调节觉醒和恐惧反应。NPS激活一种在整个中枢神经系统均有表达的孤儿G蛋白偶联受体，这些中枢神经系统区域包括调节睡眠/觉醒及焦虑的脑区。相比之下，NPS前体mRNA仅在脑干的少数离散核团以及下丘脑和杏仁核的一些散在细胞中被发现。NPS前体最显著的表达见于脑桥区域一群先前未被描述的神经元，该区域位于去甲肾上腺素能蓝斑和巴林顿核之间。中枢给予NPS可诱导持久觉醒并抑制睡眠的各个阶段。此外，NPS在多种行为模型中呈现抗焦虑作用。NPS独特的药理学特性使其成为药物研发的一个有趣靶点。它还增进了我们对睡眠/觉醒调节的神经生物学机制以及应激的神经元处理过程的理解。
