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The CApillary FEeder Assay Measures Food Intake in Drosophila melanogaster
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The PACAP/PAC1 Receptor System and Feeding
Keerthana Sureshkumar1, Andrea Saenz2, Syed M Ahmad2
1UCLA College of Letters and Sciences, University of California, 612 Charles E Young Dr. South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Brain Sciences
|January 21, 2022
Summary
Pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) influences food intake. This review synthesizes research on how PACAP and its receptors regulate appetite, focusing on its anorexic effects in the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroendocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- Pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide involved in various physiological processes.
- PACAP exists in two forms (PACAP-38, PACAP-27) and interacts with PAC1, VPAC1, and VPAC2 receptors.
- PACAP and its receptors are notably expressed in brain regions controlling energy homeostasis, such as the hypothalamus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review the existing literature on the role of PACAP and its receptors in regulating food intake.
- To synthesize the mechanisms by which PACAP exerts its anorexic effects across different brain regions.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed.
- 68 articles focusing on the regulatory action of PACAP on food intake were reviewed.
Main Results:
- PACAP, both exogenous and endogenous, significantly influences feeding behavior.
- PACAP affects both homeostatic and hedonic aspects of food intake.
- Evidence points to specific neuroanatomical sites, PACAP receptors, signaling pathways, and neurotransmitters mediating PACAP's hypophagic effects.
Conclusions:
- PACAP plays a crucial role in the central regulation of food intake.
- Understanding PACAP's anorexic pathways offers insights into appetite control and potential therapeutic targets.
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