Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is an upstream regulator of prodynorphin mRNA expression in neurons.

Although dynorphins are widely involved in the control of not only nociceptive neurotransmission but also a variety of brain functions such as memory and emotion, no natural regulator for inducing the mRNA expression of prodynorphin (Pdyn), a precursor protein of dynorphins, is known. Using primary cultures of rat cortical neurons, we found that pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), a member of the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)/secretin/glucagon neuropeptide family, markedly induces Pdyn mRNA expression. PACAP was much more effective than VIP, indicating a major role for PAC1 in the PACAP-induced Pdyn mRNA expression. The increase in Pdyn mRNA expression was independent of de novo protein synthesis. Administration of forskolin, an activator for adenylate cyclase/protein kinase A (PKA), but not TPA, an activator for protein kinase C (PKC), induced Pdyn mRNA expression, suggesting a major role for PKA. The involvement of PKA was supported by the inhibition of PACAP-induced Pdyn mRNA expression upon addition of H89, an inhibitor for PKA. The PACAP-induced potentiation of NMDA-R was involved in the mRNA expression of Bdnf or c-fos but not Pdyn. These results suggest PACAP to be an upstream regulator for inducing Pdyn mRNA expression through PKA.