Recombinant DNA clones encoding the neurotensin/neuromedin N precursor protein have been isolated from both bovine hypothalamus cDNA and rat genomic libraries using a heterologous canine cDNA probe. Nucleotide sequence analysis of these clones and comparison with the previously determined canine sequence has revealed that 76% of the amino acid residues are conserved in all three species. The pr...

Acute blockade of dopamine D(2) receptors by the typical antipsychotic drug haloperidol leads to alterations in neuronal gene expression and behavior. In the dorsolateral striatum, the levels of mRNA for the immediate-early gene c-fos and the neuropeptide gene neurotensin/neuromedin N (NT/N) are significantly increased by haloperidol. An acute behavioral response to haloperidol is catalepsy, co...

Because of persistent social problems caused by methamphetamine (METH), new therapeutic strategies need to be developed. Thus, we investigated the response of central nervous system neurotensin (NT) systems to METH self-administration (SA) and their interaction with basal ganglia dopamine (DA) pathways. Neurotensin is a peptide associated with inhibitory feedback pathways to nigrostriatal DA pr...

Two G protein-coupled neurotensin (NT) receptors, termed NTR1 and NTR2, have been identified so far. In contrast to the NTR1, which has been extensively studied, little is known about the pharmacological and biological properties of the NTR2. In the course of characterizing NT analogs that exhibited binding selectivity for the NTR2, we discovered that this receptor constitutively activated inos...

BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by deficits in social communication and language and the presence of repetitive behaviors that affect as many as 1 in 50 US children. Perinatal stress and environmental factors appear to play a significant role in increasing the risk for ASDs. There is no definitive pathogenesis, which therefore significantly hinders the development ...

The role and signaling properties of the low-affinity neurotensin receptor (NTS2) are still controversial. In particular, it is unclear whether neurotensin acts as an agonist, inverse agonist, or antagonist at this site. In view of the growing evidence for a role of NTS2 in antinociception, the elucidation of the pharmacological and coupling properties of this receptor is particularly critical....

INTRODUCTION Atherosclerotic vascular disease is currently the biggest threat and the highest cause of death worldwide, approaching almost 60%.The development of atherosclerosis is affected by ecological factors associated with industry and pollution of the environment. Neurotensin (NT) is a peptide acting via 3 kinds of neurotensin receptors (NTR) localized in target tissues. In several studie...

The levels of the neuropeptides Met- and Leu-enkephalin (MET-ENK, LEU-ENK), substance P and neurotensin were measured by a combined high performance liquid chromatography/radioimmunoassay (HPLC/RIA) method in postmortem samples of basal ganglia from Parkinson's disease patients, incidental Lewy body disease patients (pre-symptomatic Parkinson's disease) and matched controls. Dopamine (DA) level...

Methamphetamine (METH) is a psychostimulant that exhibits significant abuse potential. Although METH addiction is a major health and societal concern, no drug is currently approved for its therapeutic management. METH activates the central dopaminergic "reward" circuitry, and with repeated use increases levels of the neuromodulatory peptide neurotensin in the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegme...