| Popis: |
Publisher Summary Studies in rodents and primates suggest that neuropeptide Y (NPY) and peptide YY (PYY), as well as their receptors could have a direct implication in some pathological disorders including obesity, depression and epilepsy. Obesity is one of the major health issues in industrialized countries and most recent studies suggest that NPY could be one of the key peptides in feeding behavior. It is thus not surprising that this peptide has generated much interest in pharmaceutical and academic laboratories. This chapter reviews the distribution and biological effects of NPY and related peptides in the brain, focusing on the characterization and distribution of the NPY Y1, Y2, Y4 and Y5 receptor protein and their mRNA in the rat brain. Additionally, the chapter presents a comparative distribution of the various NPY receptor subtypes in other species, including man. The chapter discusses the possible physiological and pathophysiological implications of NPY and its receptors. |
