Description
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is an endogenous peptide neurotransmitter that exhibits a variety of properties, including vasoconstrictive/hypertensive, neuromodulatory, cognition enhancing, reward and reinforcement-modulating, antidepressant, anxiolytic, pro-angiogenic, and pro-atherosclerotic activities. NPY is produced by sympathetic nervous system neurons and activates Y receptors. In vivo, NPY potentiates reward- and reinforcement-inducing effects of opioids in operant behavior assays. In other animal models, NPY inhibits amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced depression and spatial memory deficits in the tail suspension and object location tasks. NPY also decreases or prevents stress-induced development of anxiety during the forced swim test and elevated plus maze models. Additionally, NPY promotes vascular growth and may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis.
References
Wang Q, Wang M, Whim MD. Neuropeptide y gates a stress-induced, long-lasting plasticity in the sympathetic nervous system. J Neurosci. 2013 Jul 31;33(31):12705-17. PMID: 23904607.
Desai SJ, Upadhya MA, Subhedar NK, et al. NPY mediates reward activity of morphine, via NPY Y1 receptors, in the nucleus accumbens shell. Behav Brain Res. 2013 Jun 15;247:79-91. PMID: 23511250
dos Santos VV, Santos DB, Lach G, et al. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) prevents depressive-like behavior, spatial memory deficits and oxidative stress following amyloid-β (Aβ(1-40)) administration in mice. Behav Brain Res. 2013 May 1;244:107-15. PMID: 23396168
Serova LI, Tillinger A, Alaluf LG, et al. Single intranasal neuropeptide Y infusion attenuates development of PTSD-like symptoms to traumatic stress in rats. Neuroscience. 2013 Apr 16;236:298-312. PMID: 23376740.
Zukowska Z, Pons J, Lee EW, et al. Neuropeptide Y: a new mediator linking sympathetic nerves, blood vessels and immune system? Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2003 Feb;81(2):89-94. PMID: 12710520.
