Hochol Anna, Belloni Anna S, Rucinski Marcin, Ziolkowska Agnieszka, Di Liddo Rosa, Nussdorfer Gastone G, Malendowicz Ludwik K
Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan School of Medicine, PL-60781 Poznan, Poland.
Int J Mol Med. 2006 Dec;18(6):1101-6.
Neuropeptides B and W (NPB and NPW) have been identified as endogenous ligands of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPR) 7 and 8, which in humans are expressed in the hypothalamus and probably involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis and feeding behavior. GPR8 is absent in the rat, where the GPR8-like receptor (GPR8-LR) has been described. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction detected the expression of NPB, NPW, GPR7 and GPR8-LR mRNAs in the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, thyroid and parathyroid glands, pancreatic islets, adrenal glands, ovary and testis of the rat. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated the presence of NPB and NPW immunoreactivities in these same glands. Radioimmune assay showed that the bolus intraperitoneal injection of 2 nmol/100 g NPB or NPW raised the plasma levels of parathyroid hormone, corticosterone and testosterone. NPB also increased the blood concentration of thyroxine, and NPW that of ACTH and estradiol. Taken together, these findings allow us to suggest that NPB and NPW play a role in the autocrine-paracrine functional regulation of the endocrine system in the rat.
神经肽B和W（NPB和NPW）已被确定为G蛋白偶联受体（GPR）7和8的内源性配体，在人类中，它们在下丘脑表达，可能参与能量稳态和摄食行为的调节。大鼠体内不存在GPR8，不过已发现大鼠有GPR8样受体（GPR8-LR）。逆转录-聚合酶链反应检测到NPB、NPW、GPR7和GPR8-LR mRNA在大鼠下丘脑、垂体前叶、甲状腺、甲状旁腺、胰岛、肾上腺、卵巢和睾丸中的表达。免疫细胞化学显示这些腺体中存在NPB和NPW免疫反应性。放射免疫分析表明，腹腔注射2 nmol/100 g NPB或NPW可提高血浆甲状旁腺激素、皮质酮和睾酮水平。NPB还可提高甲状腺素的血浓度，NPW则可提高促肾上腺皮质激素和雌二醇的血浓度。综上所述，这些发现使我们认为NPB和NPW在大鼠内分泌系统的自分泌-旁分泌功能调节中发挥作用。
