Neuropeptide S: a neuropeptide promoting arousal and anxiolytic-like effects

Yan-Ling Xu; Rainer K Reinscheid; Salvador Huitron-Resendiz; Stewart D Clark; Zhiwei Wang; Steven H Lin; Fernando A Brucher; Joanne Zeng; Nga K Ly; Steven J Henriksen; Luis de Lecea; Olivier Civelli

doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2004.08.005

Neuropeptide S: a neuropeptide promoting arousal and anxiolytic-like effects

Neuron. 2004 Aug 19;43(4):487-97. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2004.08.005.

Authors

Yan-Ling Xu¹, Rainer K Reinscheid, Salvador Huitron-Resendiz, Stewart D Clark, Zhiwei Wang, Steven H Lin, Fernando A Brucher, Joanne Zeng, Nga K Ly, Steven J Henriksen, Luis de Lecea, Olivier Civelli

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pharmacology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA.

PMID: 15312648
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2004.08.005

Abstract

Arousal and anxiety are behavioral responses that involve complex neurocircuitries and multiple neurochemical components. Here, we report that a neuropeptide, neuropeptide S (NPS), potently modulates wakefulness and could also regulate anxiety. NPS acts by activating its cognate receptor (NPSR) and inducing mobilization of intracellular Ca2+. The NPSR mRNA is widely distributed in the brain, including the amygdala and the midline thalamic nuclei. Central administration of NPS increases locomotor activity in mice and decreases paradoxical (REM) sleep and slow wave sleep in rats. NPS was further shown to produce anxiolytic-like effects in mice exposed to four different stressful paradigms. Interestingly, NPS is expressed in a previously undefined cluster of cells located between the locus coeruleus (LC) and Barrington's nucleus. These results indicate that NPS could be a new modulator of arousal and anxiety. They also show that the LC region encompasses distinct nuclei expressing different arousal-promoting neurotransmitters.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Anti-Anxiety Agents / metabolism
Anti-Anxiety Agents / pharmacology*
Anti-Anxiety Agents / therapeutic use
Anxiety / drug therapy*
Anxiety / metabolism
Arousal / drug effects
Arousal / physiology*
Brain / metabolism
Brain / physiology
CHO Cells
Conserved Sequence
Cricetinae
Evolution, Molecular
Female
Humans
Male
Maze Learning / physiology
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Molecular Sequence Data
Motor Activity / physiology
Neuropeptides / biosynthesis
Neuropeptides / pharmacology
Neuropeptides / physiology*
Neuropeptides / therapeutic use
RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / biosynthesis
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / physiology*
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / therapeutic use
Receptors, Neuropeptide / metabolism
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

Anti-Anxiety Agents
Neuropeptides
RNA, Messenger
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
Receptors, Neuropeptide
neuropeptide S, rat