Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology

Increases in serum corticosterone level and diuresis induced by the selective kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonist U50,488H are unaffected by KOR phosphorylation

This study shows that KOR phosphorylation does not affect U50,488H-induced corticosterone increase or diuresis in mice, with males showing greater diuresis than females.

PACAP engages distinct signaling programs across cortical neuronal and non-neuronal cell types

The paper investigates how PACAP signaling varies across cell types in the temporal association cortex during fear learning and memory.

The effect of preproenkephalin gene deletion on heart function in mice

This study examines the effect of preproenkephalin gene deletion on heart function in mice, finding no major changes in heart size or function under basal conditions but some reductions in filling and ejection rates.

Methamphetamine-induced disruption of neuropeptide expression in mice

This study investigates how methamphetamine affects neuropeptide expression in infant and adult mice, finding age-specific differences in corticolimbic areas.

Relaxin-3 neurons of the zebrafish periaqueductal gray mediate behavioral responses evoked by darkness

The paper identifies Relaxin-3-expressing neurons in the zebrafish PAG that are activated by darkness and contribute to behavioral responses.

Whole Brain Cellular Activation After Mu and NOP Receptor Agonism Identifies Differential Regional and Network Consequences

The paper maps whole-brain neuronal activation after opioid receptor agonism, revealing sex-specific and treatment-dependent patterns of activation and network changes.

Atlas-Guided Cell-Specific Transcriptomics Identifies Pathway-Level Remodeling of Human Hypothalamic CRH Neurons in Opioid Use Disorder

The paper identifies pathway-level remodeling in human hypothalamic CRH neurons in opioid use disorder using single-nucleus RNA sequencing and atlas-guided analysis.

Tac1 Deficiency Reduces the Severity of Enteric Bacterial Infection

This study shows that Tac1 deficiency reduces C. rodentium infection severity by lowering inflammation and immune cell recruitment.

Early intervention with a PACAP lactoside following repetitive mild traumatic brain injury prevents persistent LHb hyperactivity and motivational deficits in male mice

This study shows that early administration of a PACAP agonist prevents mTBI-induced LHb hyperactivity and motivational deficits in mice, while late administration has limited efficacy and potential side effects.

Parabrachial-amygdala circuit cooperates with a posterior striatal area to drive opioid withdrawal aversion

This study identifies a PB-CeC circuit and posterior striatal area as cooperative drivers of opioid withdrawal aversion through chemogenetic inhibition experiments.

12-plex DiLeu enables robust quantification of the feeding neuropeptidome

This paper uses 12-plex DiLeu labeling to quantitatively analyze the feeding neuropeptidome across multiple tissues and timepoints in Cancer borealis, revealing distinct regulatory patterns and functional specificity of peptide variants.

Seasonal photoperiod cycling reduces inter-individual variability in mu-opioid receptor density in rats

This study shows that seasonal photoperiod cycling reduces inter-individual variability in mu-opioid receptor density in rats compared to constant photoperiod conditions.

Efferent projections of topographically distinct relaxin family peptide receptor-3 (RXFP3) lateral hypothalamus/zona incerta cells

The paper identifies distinct efferent projection patterns of RXFP3-expressing cells in the lateral hypothalamus and zona incerta based on their topographical location.

Kappa opioid receptors (KORs) in the anterior paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (aPVT) mediate morphine withdrawal-, anxiety-, fear-, and KOR agonist-induced aversion-like behaviors in mice

This study shows that KORs in aPVT neurons mediate morphine withdrawal, anxiety, and fear in both sexes, but only contribute to KOR agonist-induced aversion in males.

Dynorphinergic neuroadaptations in the islands of Calleja: implications for alcohol use disorder

This study investigates dynorphinergic changes in the islands of Calleja in rats exposed to alcohol vapor, finding increased DYN A-like immunoreactivity and correlation with 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations during withdrawal.

Brain Kappa Opioid Receptor Availability Across Stress and Social Buffering Conditions: A Positron Emission Tomography Study in Coppery Titi Monkeys

This study uses PET to measure kappa opioid receptor availability in coppery titi monkeys under different stress and social conditions, showing condition-dependent binding changes in brain regions like the amygdala and hippocampus.

Opioid receptor distribution in the claustrum-dorsal endopiriform complex

This study maps opioid receptor distribution in the mouse claustrum-dorsal endopiriform using mFISH and single-cell analysis, revealing cell-type-specific patterns conserved in macaques.

Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Enkephalin Peptide Modulates Behavioral Preference

This study investigates the role of DRN enkephalin peptides in behavior by knocking them out in mice, finding altered responses to pain, avoidance, and social stimuli.

Mu opioid receptor mRNA and protein localization across the rat and mouse habenula

The paper maps mu opioid receptor mRNA and protein expression in the habenula of rat and mouse, showing expression in both medial and lateral subdivisions with differences in cell proportions and localization.

Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ receptor agonism attenuates behavioral and neural responses to conditioned aversive stimuli

This study examines how NOP receptor agonism affects behavioral and neural responses to aversive stimuli in squirrel monkeys, finding reduced fear responses and altered brain connectivity.

In silico identification and deorphanisation of an allatostatin C GPCR system in the cephalopod Octopus vulgaris reveals two receptors with distinct potency

This paper identifies and characterizes an allatostatin C GPCR system in Octopus vulgaris, revealing two receptors with distinct potency in response to the same peptide.

CGRP reception potentiates anxiety in an influenza A derived immune engram

The paper investigates how an influenza A-derived immune engram influences anxiety and cytokine expression through CGRP signaling in the posterior insula.

Enteric neurons modulate colorectal cancer cell cycle through a PCSK1 - Methionine-Enkephalin Axis

This study identifies a neuronal PCSK1-M-ENK pathway in the ENS that suppresses colorectal cancer growth through OGFr activation.

Neurochemical phenotype of relaxin family peptide receptor-3 (RXFP3) lateral hypothalamus/zona incerta cells

This study characterizes the distribution and neurochemical phenotype of RXFP3-expressing neurons in the mouse lateral hypothalamus and zona incerta, revealing their co-expression with markers related to fear learning and defensive behavior.

Structural Components for Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Signaling to Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells

The paper identifies CGRP receptors on OPCs and demonstrates close spatial contacts between CGRP and OPCs, suggesting direct signaling.

Parabrachial CGRP Neurons Regulate Opioid Reinforcement

This study identifies CGRP-expressing parabrachial nucleus neurons as regulators of opioid reinforcement, suggesting new therapeutic targets for OUD.

Triazole 187 is a biased KOR agonist that suppresses itch without sedation and induces anxiolytic-like behaviors in mice.

Subcellular interactions of neuropeptide Y and corticotropin-releasing factor in the central nucleus of the amygdala in the mouse

The paper identifies direct synaptic interactions between NPY and CRF in the CeA of mice, suggesting a role for NPY in modulating CRF-containing neurons involved in stress and psychiatric disorders.

Parabrachial Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Neurons Sex-Specifically Modulate Anxiety in Alcohol Withdrawal

This study investigates the role of parabrachial CGRP neurons in anxiety during alcohol withdrawal, finding sex-specific effects in acute and prolonged withdrawal scenarios.

Galanin receptor 1 expressing neurons in hippocampal-prefrontal circuitry modulate goal directed attention and impulse control

The paper investigates how GalR1-expressing neurons in the vPFC and vHC differentially affect attention and impulse control, finding region-specific activity patterns linked to executive behaviors.