A neuropeptide is any of the variety of
peptides found in
neural tissue; e.g.
endorphins,
enkephalins. Now, about 100 different peptides are known to be released by different populations of neurons in the mammalian brain. Neurons use many different chemical signals to communicate information, including neurotransmitters, peptides,
cannabinoids, and even some gases, like
nitric oxide.Many populations of neurons have distinctive biochemical phenotypes. For example, in one subpopulation of about 3000 neurons in the
arcuate nucleus of the
hypothalamus, three anorectic peptides are co-expressed:
α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), galanin-like peptide, and
cocaine-and-amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), and in another subpopulation two orexigenic peptides are co-expressed,
neuropeptide Y and
agouti-related peptide (AGRP). These are not the only peptides in the arcuate nucleus;
β-endorphin,
dynorphin,
enkephalin,
galanin,
ghrelin,
growth-hormone releasing hormone,
neurotensin,
neuromedin U, and
somatostatin are also expressed in subpopulations of arcuate neurons. These peptides are all released centrally and act on other neurons at specific receptors. The neuropeptide Y neurons also make the classical inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.
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A member of a class of protein-like molecules made in the brain. Neuropeptides consist of short chains of amino acids, with some functioning as neurotransmitters and some functioning as hormones.
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