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Updated: Apr 6, 2026
Comprehensive Profiling of Dopamine Regulation in Substantia Nigra and Ventral Tegmental Area
Published on: August 10, 2012
Neuropeptide S Increases locomotion activity through corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 in substantia nigra of
M S Li1, Y L Peng1, J H Jiang1
1Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Abstract:
Neuropeptide S (NPS), the endogenous ligand of NPS receptor (NPSR), was reported to be involved in the regulation of arousal, anxiety, locomotion, learning and memory. The basal ganglia play a crucial role in regulating of locomotion-related behavior. Here, we found that NPSR protein of mouse was distributed in the substantia nigra (SN) and globus pallidus (LGP) by immunohistochemical analysis. However, less is known about the direct locomotion-related effects of NPS in both SN and LGP. Therefore, we investigated the role of NPS in locomotion processes, using the open field test. The results showed that NPS infused into the SN (0.03, 0.1, 1nmol) or LGP (0.01, 0.03, 0.1nmol) dose-dependently increased the locomotor activity in mice. SHA 68 (50mg/kg), an antagonist of NPSR, blocked the locomotor stimulant effect of NPS in both nuleus. Meanwhile, these effects of NPS were also counteracted by the CRF1 receptor antagonist antalarmin (30mg/kg, i.p.). In addition, we found that the expression of c-Fos was significantly increased after NPS was delivered into SN. In conclusion, these results indicate that NPS-NPSR system may regulate locomotion together with the CRF1 system in SN.
