title: Diverse roles of neurotensin agonists in the central nervous system.
abstract: Neurotensin (NT) is a tridecapeptide that is found in the central nervous system (CNS) and the gastrointestinal tract. NT behaves as a neurotransmitter in the brain and as a hormone in the gut. Additionally, NT acts as a neuromodulator to several neurotransmitter systems including dopaminergic, sertonergic, GABAergic, glutamatergic, and cholinergic systems. Due to its association with such a wide variety of neurotransmitters, NT has been implicated in the pathophysiology of several CNS disorders such as schizophrenia, drug abuse, Parkinson's disease (PD), pain, central control of blood pressure, eating disorders, as well as, cancer and inflammation. The present review will focus on the role that NT and its analogs play in schizophrenia, endocrine function, pain, psychostimulant abuse, and PD.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida Jacksonville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boules
authors.forename: Zhimin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fredrickson
authors.forename: Elliott
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Richelson
keywords: central nervous system; endocrinology; neurotensin; pain; psychostimulant abuse; schizophrenia