title: Distribution and pharmacological characterization of primate NK-2 tachykinin receptor in the central nervous system of the rhesus monkey.
abstract: Tachykinin NK-2 receptor, a cognate receptor for neurokinin A, expressed in the brain has been suggested as a new target for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In rodents, treatment with NK-2 receptor agonists causes anxiogenic effects, while NK-2 receptor antagonists show anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects. However, information about the distribution and functions of NK-2 receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) in primates is still lacking. Here, we examined the distribution and pharmacological profile of NK-2 receptors in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) to clarify the molecular basis of NK-2-mediated tachykininergic functions in the primate CNS. NK-2 receptors cloned from the rhesus monkey brain showed similar pharmacological properties to those of human NK-2 receptors. Substantial expression levels of NK-2 mRNA were observed in all the brain regions examined, including areas pertinent to the emotional networks such as the prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex and amygdala. These findings suggest that NK-2 receptors may play important roles in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8602, Japan.
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagano
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oishi
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D015288:Neurokinin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D015287:Neurokinin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018041:Receptors, Neurokinin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; D018041:Receptors, Neurokinin-2; D013373:Substance P; D015288:Neurokinin A; D015287:Neurokinin B