Description
Nocistatin is a neuromodulatory peptide that exhibits antinociceptive, neuroprotective, and anxiogenic activities. Ca2+-sensitive (BK, IK, SK) K+ channels mediate the inhibitory action of nocistatin on muscle contractions in the uterus. Nocistatin activates transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels via GPCR/PLC/PKC signaling pathways and inhibits thermal hyperalgesia induced by nociceptin. Nocistatin also inhibits memory acquisition impairment induced by nociceptin. Additionally, this peptide inhibits release of 5-HT in synaptosomes and induces anxiogenic activity in animal models undergoing elevated plus maze testing.
References
Deák BH, Klukovits A, Tekes K, et al. Nocistatin inhibits pregnant rat uterine contractions in vitro: roles of calcitonin gene-related peptide and calcium-dependent potassium channel. Eur J Pharmacol. 2013 Aug 15;714(1-3):96-104. PMID: 23792038.
Chen YL, Li AH, Yeh TH, et al. Nocistatin and nociceptin exert opposite effects on the excitability of central amygdala nucleus-periaqueductal gray projection neurons. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2009 Jan;40(1):76-88. PMID: 18930828.
Fantin M, Fischetti C, Trapella C, et al. Nocistatin inhibits 5-hydroxytryptamine release in the mouse neocortex via presynaptic Gi/o protein linked pathways. Br J Pharmacol. 2007 Oct;152(4):549-55. PMID: 17618307.
Liu EH, Lee TL, Nishiuchi Y, et al. Nocistatin and its derivatives antagonize the impairment of short-term acquisition induced by nociceptin. Neurosci Lett. 2007 Apr 12;416(2):155-9. PMID: 17306455.
Liu EH, Nishiuchi Y, Kimura T, et al. Supraspinal nocistatin and its amide derivative antagonize the hyperalgesic effects of nociceptin in mice. Neurosci Lett. 2006 Apr 10-17;397(1-2):59-63. PMID: 16384642.
Gavioli EC, Rae GA, Calo' G, et al. Central injections of nocistatin or its C-terminal hexapeptide exert anxiogenic-like effect on behaviour of mice in the plus-maze test. Br J Pharmacol. 2002 Jul;136(5):764-72. PMID: 12086986.
