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Relaxin‐3/insulin‐like peptide 7, a neuropeptide involved in the stress response and food intake
Author(s) -
Tanaka Masaki
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2010.07931.x
Subject(s) - relaxin , hypothalamus , medicine , forebrain , endocrinology , neuropeptide , biology , receptor , central nervous system , hormone
Relaxin‐3, also known as insulin‐like peptide‐7, is a newly‐identified peptide of the insulin superfamily. All members of this superfamily have a similar structure, which consists of two subunits (A‐chain and B‐chain) linked by disulfide bonds. Relaxin‐3 is so named because it has a motif that can interact with the relaxin receptor. By contrast to other relaxins, relaxin‐3 is mainly expressed in the brain and testis. In rodent brain, anatomical studies have revealed its predominant expression in neurons of the nucleus incertus of the dorsal pons, and a few other regions of the brainstem. On the other hand, relaxin‐3‐expressing nerve fibers and the relaxin‐3 receptors, RXFP3 and RXFP1, are widely distributed in the forebrain, with the hypothalamus being one of the most densely‐innervated regions. Therefore, relaxin‐3 is considered to exert various actions through its ligand‐receptor system. This minireview describes the expression of relaxin‐3 in the brain, as well as its functions in the hypothalamus, including the stress response and food intake.