title: Neuropeptide w.
abstract: Neuropeptide W (NPW), which was first isolated from the porcine hypothalamus, exists in two forms, consisting of 23 (NPW23) or 30 (NPW30) amino acids. These neuropeptides bind to one of two NPW receptors, either NPBWR1 (otherwise known as GPR7) or NPBWR2 (GPR8), which belong to the G protein-coupled receptor family. GPR7 is expressed in the brain and peripheral organs of both humans and rodents, whereas GPR8 is not found in rodents. GPR7 mRNA in rodents is widely expressed in several hypothalamic regions, including the paraventricular, supraoptic, ventromedial, dorsomedial, suprachiasmatic, and arcuate nuclei. These observations suggest that GPR7 plays a crucial role in the modulation of neuroendocrine function. The intracerebroventricular infusion of NPW has been shown to suppress food intake and body weight and to increase both heat production and body temperature, suggesting that NPW functions as an endogenous catabolic signaling molecule. Here we summarize our current understanding of the distribution and function of NPW in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine Tokyo, Japan ; Department of Exercise and Sports Physiology, Hoshi University School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Takenoya
authors.forename: Haruaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kageyama
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirako
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Tomoo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ryushi
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shioda