Department of Anatomy, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamikyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
Department of Basic Geriatrics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamikyo-ku, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jul 7;22(14):7287. doi: 10.3390/ijms22147287.
Neuropeptide Y (NPY), an abundant peptide in the central nervous system, is expressed in neurons of various regions throughout the brain. The physiological and behavioral effects of NPY are mainly mediated through Y1, Y2, and Y5 receptor subtypes, which are expressed in regions regulating food intake, fear and anxiety, learning and memory, depression, and posttraumatic stress. In particular, the nucleus accumbens (NAc) has one of the highest NPY concentrations in the brain. In this review, we summarize the role of NPY in the NAc. NPY is expressed principally in medium-sized aspiny neurons, and numerous NPY immunoreactive fibers are observed in the NAc. Alterations in NPY expression under certain conditions through intra-NAc injections of NPY or receptor agonists/antagonists revealed NPY to be involved in the characteristic functions of the NAc, such as alcohol intake and drug addiction. In addition, control of mesolimbic dopaminergic release via NPY receptors may take part in these functions. NPY in the NAc also participates in fat intake and emotional behavior. Accumbal NPY neurons and fibers may exert physiological and pathophysiological actions partly through neuroendocrine mechanisms and the autonomic nervous system.
神经肽 Y（NPY）是中枢神经系统中丰富的肽，存在于大脑各个区域的神经元中。NPY 的生理和行为效应主要通过 Y1、Y2 和 Y5 受体亚型介导，这些受体亚型在调节食物摄入、恐惧和焦虑、学习和记忆、抑郁和创伤后应激的区域中表达。特别是，伏隔核（NAc）是大脑中 NPY 浓度最高的区域之一。在这篇综述中，我们总结了 NPY 在 NAc 中的作用。NPY 主要表达在中型无棘突神经元中，并且在 NAc 中观察到大量 NPY 免疫反应性纤维。通过 NAc 内注射 NPY 或受体激动剂/拮抗剂在某些条件下改变 NPY 的表达，表明 NPY 参与了 NAc 的特征功能，如酒精摄入和药物成瘾。此外，通过 NPY 受体控制中脑边缘多巴胺释放可能参与这些功能。NAc 中的 NPY 也参与脂肪摄入和情绪行为。伏隔核 NPY 神经元和纤维可能通过神经内分泌机制和自主神经系统部分发挥生理和病理生理作用。
