Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells
Published on: July 9, 2015
Hemoglobin-derived peptides and mood regulation
Fengmei Wei1, Long Zhao2, Yuhong Jing3
1Department of Physiology and Psychology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, PR China.
Evidence accumulated over the past decades has revealed that red blood cells and hemoglobin (Hb) in the blood play important roles in modulating moods and emotions. The number of red blood cells affects the mood. Hb is the principal content in the red blood cells besides water. Denatured Hb is hydrolyzed to produce bioactive peptides. RVD-hemopressin α (RVD-Hpα), which is a fragment of α-chain (95-103) in Hb, functions as a negative allosteric modulator of cannabinoid receptor 1 and a positive allosteric modulator of cannabinoid receptor 2. Hemorphins, which are fragments of β-chain in Hb, exert their effects on opioid receptors. Two hemorphins, namely, LVV-hemorphin-6 and LVV-hemorphin-7, could induce anxiolytic-like effects. The use of Hb-derived bioactive peptides for the treatment of mood disorders is desirable due to cannabinoid-opioid cross modulation and the critical roles of the two systems in physiological processes, such as memory, mood and emotion.
Evidence accumulated over the past decades has revealed that red blood cells and hemoglobin (Hb) in the blood play important roles in modulating moods and emotions. The number of red blood cells affects the mood. Hb is the principal content in the red blood cells besides water. Denatured Hb is hydrolyzed to produce bioactive peptides. RVD-hemopressin α (RVD-Hpα), which is a fragment of α-chain (95-103) in Hb, functions as a negative allosteric modulator of cannabinoid receptor 1 and a positive allosteric modulator of cannabinoid receptor 2. Hemorphins, which are fragments of β-chain in Hb, exert their effects on opioid receptors. Two hemorphins, namely, LVV-hemorphin-6 and LVV-hemorphin-7, could induce anxiolytic-like effects. The use of Hb-derived bioactive peptides for the treatment of mood disorders is desirable due to cannabinoid-opioid cross modulation and the critical roles of the two systems in physiological processes, such as memory, mood and emotion.
More Related Videos
13:35A Convenient Method for Extraction and Analysis with High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography of Catecholamine Neurotransmitters and Their Metabolites
Published on: March 1, 2018
11:36A RAPID Method for Blood Processing to Increase the Yield of Plasma Peptide Levels in Human Blood
Published on: April 28, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Regulation of Food Intake
Types of Hormones
Steroids and eicosanoids fall under the category of lipid-soluble hormones. Steroids are derived from cholesterol and feature four interconnected carbon rings with variable side chains. Notable examples include estradiol from ovaries and testosterone from testes, exemplifying the critical roles of these lipid-soluble hormones in reproductive physiology. Eicosanoids, derived...
Types of Hormones
Major Hormones and Their Functions
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and...
Neurotransmitters