Regulation of Neuroendocrine System by Neuropeptide PACAP
CHEN Shang, FAN Guangchun, YU Rongjie*
The neuropeptide hormone PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) was originally isolated from the bovine pituitary gland. Subsequent studies have found that PACAP and its receptors are widely present in various tissues and organs of the body, and fully participate in the functional regulation of the central and peripheral neuroendocrine systems. At the level of the central neuroendocrine system, PACAP serve as the “baton” of the neuroendocrine network to regulate the secretion of downstream neuroendocrine tissues and organs by promoting the secretion of various upstream hormones from the hypothalamus-pituitary system. Moreover, at the level of the peripheral neuroendocrine system, PACAP works as the “balancer” to keep the neuroendocrine harmonize by fine adjustment on various downstream hormones secretion through its receptors distributed in the tissues and organs of the peripheral neuroendocrine system and in the way of autocrine and
paracrine. This article collates the regulatory effects of PACAP on the central and peripheral neuroendocrine systems, infers the dual regulatory function of PACAP, and lays theoretical foundation for the drug development of PACAP in the neuroendocrine system.
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