The brain-gut-skin triangle: new peptides.

Area of Science:

• Peptide research
• Neuroendocrinology
• Comparative physiology

Background:

• Tachykinins and bombesins are known peptide families.
• Amphibian skin harbors novel bioactive peptides with potential physiological roles.
• Understanding these peptides is crucial for neuroendocrine research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present new data on tachykinins and bombesins.
• To illustrate the current research status of sauvagine and dermorphin.
• To investigate the physiological effects of sauvagine and dermorphin.

Main Methods:

• In vivo studies in rats.
• In vitro studies using isolated rat pituitary cells.
• Intracerebroventricular injections in rabbits, chicks, and rats.

Main Results:

• Sauvagine stimulates ACTH and beta-endorphin release, and inhibits PRL and GH release in rats and humans.
• Sauvagine-like immunoreactivity is found in fish urophysis and amphibian nervous system.
• Dermorphin induces analgesia, catalepsy, EEG/behavioral changes, and alters gastric function and PRL release.

Conclusions:

• Sauvagine may function as a corticotropin releasing factor and PRL release-inhibiting factor.
• Dermorphin exhibits diverse central and peripheral effects, including analgesia and modulation of gastrointestinal and endocrine functions.
• These amphibian peptides represent significant discoveries in neuroendocrinology.