Neuroendocrine functions of PrRP, a novel hypothalamic peptide

这个项目调查了一种新发现的化学物质(肽)的作用，这种化学物质存在于大脑的下丘脑中，它调节脑下垂体的活动。下丘脑和脑下垂体共同控制着身体的许多基本过程，如生长、新陈代谢和生殖。一些人类疾病是由下丘脑和脑垂体的异常引起的，而许多其他疾病会影响这些腺体的功能，导致广泛的并发症，如体重减轻、消瘦、免疫反应异常、不孕或哺乳失败。虽然人们对下丘脑和脑下垂体的许多激素和化学物质进行了广泛的研究，但分子生物学的最新进展导致了可能具有重要调节功能的新化学物质的发现。其中一种新发现的物质被命名为催乳素释放肽或PrRP，是该项目的主题。PrRP将在动物身上进行一系列实验，以确定它在调节脑下垂体方面的重要性，特别是在压力和哺乳期间，这些条件下PrRP可以被分泌。希望这项研究将导致更详细地了解人类生殖和内分泌系统是如何被控制的，并找到在正常和疾病条件下操纵这些系统的新方法。

This project investigates the role of a newly discovered chemical (peptide) that is found in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus which regulates the activity of the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland work together to control many of the body?s essential processes such as growth, metabolism and reproduction. Some human diseases are caused by abnormalities of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland while many other diseases affect the functions of these glands, leading to widespread complications such as weight loss, wasting, abnormal immune responses, infertility or failure of lactation. While many of the hormones and chemicals of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland have been extensively studied, recent advances in molecular biology have led to the discovery of new chemicals that may have important regulatory functions. One of these newly discovered substances which was named Prolactin-Releasing Peptide or PrRP is the topic of this project. PrRP will be tested in a series of experiments in animals in order to determine how important it is in regulating the pituitary gland, particularly in stress and during lactation which are conditions when PrRP could be secreted. It is hoped that this research will lead to a more detailed understanding of how the reproductive and endocrine system are controlled in humans and to new methods for the manipulation of these systems under normal and disease conditions.