title: Cholecystokinin: a multi-functional molecular switch of neuronal circuits.
abstract: Cholecystokinin (CCK), a peptide originally discovered in the gastrointestinal tract, is one of the most abundant and widely distributed neuropeptides in the brain. In spite of its abundance, recent data indicate that CCK modulates intrinsic neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission in a surprisingly cell-type specific manner, acting as a key molecular switch to regulate the functional output of neuronal circuits. The central importance of CCK in neuronal networks is also reflected in its involvement in a variety of neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders including panic attacks and epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, California, USA. leesyn@uci.edu
authors.forename: Soo Yeun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soltesz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000502:physiology*; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007395:Interneurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002766:Cholecystokinin