Neurotensin

n/an/an/an/anan/an/an/an/an/aNeurotensin is a 13 amino acid neuropeptide that is implicated in the regulation of luteinizing hormone and prolactin release and has significant interaction with the dopaminergic system.

Neurotensin was first isolated from extracts of bovine hypothalamus based on its ability to cause a visible vasodilation in the exposed cutaneous regions of anesthetized rats.

[2] Neurotensin shares significant sequence similarity in its 6 C-terminal amino acids with several other neuropeptides, including neuromedin N (which is derived from the same precursor).

These large peptides appear to be less potent than their smaller counterparts, but are also less sensitive to degradation and may represent endogenous, long-lasting activators in a number of pathophysiological situations.

[7] These mice exhibit modest defects in prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex, a model that has been widely used to investigate antipsychotic drug action in animals.

[9] Neurotensin gene expression has been shown to be modulated by estrogen in both human SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cell cultures as well as in mice through interactions with cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling.

Additionally, neurotensin gene transcription was blocked in knock-out mice lacking the RIIβ subunit of the protein kinase A holoenzyme.

In female rats, neurotensin expression was shown to be at its highest in the medial preoptic area (mPOA) during the proestrus phase of the estrous cycle.