Sleep Laboratory, CHU de Charleroi, A. Vésale Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Unit 222, Rue de Gozée 706, 6110 Montigny-le-Tilleul, Belgium.
Sleep Med Rev. 2010 Jun;14(3):161-5. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2009.09.001. Epub 2010 Feb 1.
Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a 36-amino-acid peptide from the pancreatic polypeptide family, is one of the more abundant peptides in the central nervous system. It acts as a neurohormone and as a neuromodulator. NPY is widely distributed in the brain, particularly the hypothalamus, the amygdala, the locus coeruleus and the cerebral cortex. At least six NPY receptors subtypes have been identified. NPY is involved in the regulation of several physiological functions such as food intake, hormonal release, circadian rhythms, cardiovascular disease, thermoregulation, stress response, anxiety and sleep. Sleep promoting effects of NPY as well as wakefulness effects of NPY were found in animals, depending on the site of injection as well as on the functional state of the structure. In humans, NPY was found to have hypnotic properties, possibly acting as a physiological antagonist of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). In conclusion, NPY participates in sleep regulation in humans, particularly in the timing of sleep onset and may as such play a role in the integration of sleep regulation, food intake and metabolism.
神经肽 Y（NPY）是一种源自胰多肽家族的 36 个氨基酸肽，是中枢神经系统中更丰富的肽之一。它作为神经激素和神经调质发挥作用。NPY 广泛分布于大脑，特别是下丘脑、杏仁核、蓝斑和大脑皮层。已经确定了至少六种 NPY 受体亚型。NPY 参与调节多种生理功能，如摄食、激素释放、昼夜节律、心血管疾病、体温调节、应激反应、焦虑和睡眠。在动物中发现 NPY 具有促进睡眠的作用以及 NPY 对清醒的作用，这取决于注射部位以及结构的功能状态。在人类中，发现 NPY 具有催眠特性，可能作为促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素（CRH）的生理拮抗剂。总之，NPY 参与人类的睡眠调节，特别是在睡眠开始的时间，并且可能在睡眠调节、摄食和代谢的整合中发挥作用。
