title: Behavioral actions of urotensin-II.
abstract: Urotensin-II (U-II) and urotensin-II-related peptide (URP) have been identified as the endogenous ligands of the orphan G-protein-coupled receptor GPR14 now renamed UT. The occurrence of U-II and URP in the central nervous system, and the widespread distribution of UT in the brain suggest that U-II and URP may play various behavioral activities. Studies conducted in rodents have shown that central administration of U-II stimulates locomotion, provokes anxiety- and depressive-like states, enhances feeding activity and increases the duration of paradoxical sleep episodes. These observations indicate that, besides the endocrine/paracrine activities of U-II and URP on cardiovascular and kidney functions, these peptides may act as neurotransmitters and/or neuromodulators to regulate various neurobiological activities.
authors.affiliation: CNRS FRE 2735, Laboratoire de Neuropsychopharmacologie Expérimentale, Institut Fédératif de Recherches Multidisciplinaires sur les Peptides 23, UFR de Médecine et Pharmacie, 22 Boulevard Gambetta, Rouen 76183, France. jean-claude.dorego@univ-rouen.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: do Rego
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leprince
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scalbert
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vaudry
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costentin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000378:metabolism; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014579:Urotensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C479080:UTS2B protein, human; C121697:UTS2R protein, human; D014579:Urotensins; C029677:urotensin II