Description
Urocortin is an endogenous peptide ligand and member of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family; it binds and activates CRF type 1 and 2 receptors. Urocortin modulates stress responses and exhibits anorexigenic, anxiogenic, and positive inotropic effects across a wide variety of in vivo models. Urocortin is primarily expressed in the heart. Urocortin exerts many effects on signaling of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, including increasing corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (corticotropin) levels.
References
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Dono LM, Currie PJ. The cannabinoid receptor CB1 inverse agonist AM251 potentiates the anxiogenic activity of urocortin I in the basolateral amygdala. Neuropharmacology. 2012 Jan;62(1):192-9. PMID: 21736884.
Currie PJ, Coiro CD, Duenas R, et al. Urocortin I inhibits the effects of ghrelin and neuropeptide Y on feeding and energy substrate utilization. Brain Res. 2011 Apr 18;1385:127-34. PMID: 21303672.
Takahashi K, Totsune K, Murakami O, et al. Urocortins as cardiovascular peptides. Peptides. 2004 Oct;25(10):1723-31. PMID: 15476939.
Suda T, Kageyama K, Sakihara S, et al. Physiological roles of urocortins, human homologues of fish urotensin I, and their receptors. Peptides. 2004 Oct;25(10):1689-701. PMID: 15476936.