Src tyrosine kinase family was recently identified as a novel upstream modulator of MAP kinase subfamily, p42/p44, whose activation is required for urocortin (Ucn)-mediated cardioprotection. Src kinase was also shown to reduce apoptosis in different cancer cell lines, enhancing phosphorylation and DNA binding affinity of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3. In order to eval...

Research and development is being completed for an ultracold neutron (UCN) source to be installed at the PULSTAR reactor on the campus of North Carolina State University. The objective is to establish a university-based UCN facility with sufficient UCN intensity to allow world-class fundamental and applied research with UCN. To maximize the UCN yield, a solid ortho-D2 converter will be implemen...

Urocortin (UCN) II, a newly isolated corticotropinreleasing- factor (CRF) related peptide, has been found to have potent cardiovascular protective effects. To investigate the mechanisms of its vascular protective effects, we exposed mesenteric arterial smooth muscle cells (MASMC) from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) to UCN II to observe the change in cell apoptosis using TUNEL assay and m...

Urocortin (UCN), a member of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family, inhibits food intake when it is injected intracerebroventricularly in rats. To explore the site of action of UCN in feeding behavior, we examined the effects of injection of UCN into various hypothalamic nuclei on food and water intake in 24-h fasted rats. Injection of UCN into the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (V...

Urocortin 3 (Ucn 3) is a corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-related peptide with high affinity for the type 2 CRF receptor (CRFR2). Central administration of Ucn 3 stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, suppresses feeding, and elevates blood glucose levels, suggesting that activation of brain CRFR2 promotes stress-like responses. Several CRFR2-expressing brain areas, including th...

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) has a coronary vasodilator effect and a positive inotropic effect on the isolated rat heart. Recently, expression of CRF receptor type 2 (CRF-R2) has been demonstrated in the heart. In addition, urocortin (Ucn), a new member of the CRF family, has been reported to have much greater affinity for CRF-R2 than CRF. It is suggested that the cardiac effects of Ucn...

We report the first successful extraction of accumulated ultracold neutrons (UCN) from a converter of superfluid helium, in which they were produced by downscattering neutrons of a cold beam from the Munich research reactor. Windowless UCN extraction is performed in vertical direction through a mechanical cold valve. This prototype of a versatile UCN source is comprised of a novel cryostat desi...

Urocortin (UCN) is a neuropeptide homologous with corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), which has anti-inflammatory activities not all mediated by corticosteroids. In mice, UCN (1 μg/mouse sc) significantly reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin (IL)-1β levels in vivo but did not affect serum IL-6. These effects were paralleled by a rise in co...

Despite our knowledge on the regulation of urocortin (Ucn) I and its related peptides in the heart, the possible involvement of cardiovascular stress substances, such as cytokines or angiotensin II (Ang II), on this regulation remains to be fully elucidated. We therefore evaluated the potential role of cardiovascular stress substances on the regulation of the Ucn-corticotropin-releasing hormone...

The peptide hormone Urocortin 3 (Ucn 3) is abundantly and exclusively expressed in mouse pancreatic beta cells where it regulates insulin secretion. Here we demonstrate that Ucn 3 first appears at embryonic day (E) 17.5 and, from approximately postnatal day (p) 7 and onwards throughout adult life, becomes a unifying and exclusive feature of mouse beta cells. These observations identify Ucn 3 as...