Description | Neuropeptide Y (NPY) acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain and in the autonomic nervous system. In the brain it is thought to have several functions, including increasing food intake and storage of energy as fat [ , , , ], facilitation of learning and memory via the modulation of hippocampal activity [, , ], inhibition of anxiety [, , ], presynaptic inhibition of neurotransmitter release in the CNS and periphery [], and modulation of circadian rhythm [, ]. In the periphery, NPY stimulates vascular smooth muscle contraction [, ], modulates the release of pituitary hormones [, ], pain transmission [], inhibition of insulin release [, , ] and modulation of renal function []. NPY has also been implicated in the pathophysiology of hypertension [], congestive heart failure and appetite regulation [, , , ] and controlling epileptic seizures []. Signalling responses appear to be restricted to certain cell types and in the autonomic system it is mainly produced by neurons of the sympathetic nervous system and serves as a strong vasoconstrictor and also causes growth of fat tissue []. These include inhibition of Ca2+ channels, such as in neurones [], and activation and inhibition of K+ channels, such as in cardiomyocytes [] and vascular smooth muscle cells [].The various functions of NPY are mediated by neuropeptide Y receptors, which are members of rhodopsin-like G-protein coupled receptors, they are also activated by peptide YY and the pancreatic polypeptide [ ]. There are five pharmacologically distinct neuropeptide Y receptor subtypes []; neuropeptide Y receptor Y1 (Y1), neuropeptide Y receptor Y2 (Y2), neuropeptide Y receptor Y4 (Y4), neuropeptide Y receptor Y5 (Y5) and neuropeptide Y receptor Y6 (Y6).This entry represents the neuropeptide Y1 receptor, which is present in smooth muscle such as the intestine and blood vessels [ , , ]. The Y1 receptor are believed to have a predominantly postsynaptic location, and are involved in the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase through a pertussis-toxin-sensitive G-protein, probably of the Gi protein class []. There is also evidence that Y1 can stimulate an increase in intracellular calcium independently of the phosphoinositide pathway []. | Name | Neuropeptide Y1 receptor |
Short Name | NPY1_rcpt | Type | Family |