Journal of Neuroendocrinology最新文献

{"title":"Effects of combined nutritional interventions on the natural history of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy in female carriers","authors":"Davide Ferrari,&nbsp;Maria Rita Spreghini,&nbsp;Graziamaria Ubertini,&nbsp;Enrico Silvio Bertini,&nbsp;Chiara Aiello,&nbsp;Maurizio Petrarca,&nbsp;Antonio Petrucci,&nbsp;Cristiano Rizzo,&nbsp;Andrea M. Isidori,&nbsp;Marco Cappa","doi":"10.1111/jne.70270","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jne.70270","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Female carriers of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) frequently develop neurodegenerative phenotypes resembling adrenomyeloneuropathy. However, evidence supporting disease-modifying nutritional strategies remains limited. We evaluated the effects of Aldixyl®, a derivative of Lorenzo's Oil, and dietary interventions on neurological progression, very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) levels, adrenal function, and systemic safety in X-ALD women. We conducted a single-center retrospective longitudinal study including ABCD1 heterozygous women followed at Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital between 2001 and 2025. Neurological disability was measured by Adult ALD Clinical Score (AACS), Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25-FW). Outcomes were compared between patients treated with Aldixyl® plus dietary prescriptions (group A) and those receiving diet-only (group B). Thirty-six patients were included (mean age 41.6 years), 36.1% were neurologically symptomatic at baseline (mean AACS 2.7 ± 2.6). Median C26:0 levels were mildly elevated (1.59 μmol/L). Group A (<i>n</i> = 20) was older and more neurologically impaired at baseline than group B (<i>n</i> = 16) (AACS 3.45 vs. 0.38). Over a median follow-up of 69 months, neurological progression was significantly slower in group A according to AACS (LS mean difference −2.26) and EDSS (−1.03), while T25-FW did not change. Aldixyl® exposure was associated with sustained VLCFA reduction (<i>β</i> = −0.40 μmol/L). Adrenal function and metabolic parameters remained stable, although a mild, uncomplicated decrease in platelet count was observed. In female X-ALD carriers, Aldixyl® is associated with sustained VLCFA reduction and signals suggestive of a more favorable neurological trajectory, while preserving adrenal function and demonstrating an acceptable safety profile. These findings warrant confirmation in prospective, controlled studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":16535,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Neuroendocrinology","volume":"38 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149017123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Voltage-gated calcium channel activity of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons is altered by age and by prenatal androgen exposure in female mice","authors":"Xi Chen,&nbsp;Jennifer Jaime,&nbsp;R. Anthony DeFazio,&nbsp;Suzanne M. Moenter","doi":"10.1111/jne.70268","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.70268","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), a common cause of infertility, is marked by persistently high luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse frequency, presumably driven by high-frequency GnRH pulses. Prenatally androgenized (PNA) mice mimic neuroendocrine PMOS symptoms including high LH-pulse frequency. GnRH neurons from adult PNA mice have a higher spontaneous firing rate than those from vehicle (VEH) mice; this is reversed in peripubertal mice despite more excitatory inputs at both ages. We hypothesized voltage-gated Ca²⁺ currents (<i>I</i>_Ca) help set intrinsic excitability of GnRH neurons and are altered by development and/or PNA treatment. Whole-cell patch-clamp measurements were made of GnRH neuron <i>I</i>_Ca and excitability in 3 week-old and adult VEH and PNA mice. PNA treatment increased <i>I</i>_Ca density and depolarized the <i>I</i>_Ca-half-inactivation potential at both ages. In adults, the half-activation potential of the Ca²⁺ conductance was depolarized, and the half-inactivation time of the fast <i>I</i>_Ca component was increased regardless of PNA treatment. There was an age-related change in firing response to current injections driven primarily by more firing in 3 week-old VEH mice; 3 week-old PNA mice had adult-like responses. Blocking small-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ current with apamin increased GnRH neuron firing rate except in adult PNA mice. Apamin changed the post-spike-train membrane response from hyperpolarization to depolarization; during development, this net effect of apamin was smaller in PNA mice. In summary, GnRH neurons from PNA mice have increased <i>I</i>_Ca and altered <i>I</i>_Ca kinetics. Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ currents are less prominent in GnRH neurons from adult PNA mice, perhaps contributing to their increased spontaneous firing activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":16535,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Neuroendocrinology","volume":"38 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jne.70268","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148994604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intracerebroventricular injection of neuropeptide Y suppresses luteinizing hormone pulses in mice","authors":"Lauren A. Young,&nbsp;Evan R. Hurtado,&nbsp;Kyla D. Jacobs,&nbsp;Zhi Mei Maria Lee,&nbsp;Casey C Nestor,&nbsp;Richard B. McCosh","doi":"10.1111/jne.70265","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jne.70265","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Stress impairs reproduction, at least in part, by inhibition of Kisspeptin/Neurokinin B/Dynorphin (KNDy) cells and suppression of gonadotropin secretion. However, the mechanism for this inhibition is not clear. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a pleiotropic molecule that is produced in neurons throughout the brain and mediates several physiological processes including energy homeostasis and stress responses. Centrally administered NPY elicits variable effects on luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion, which vary with species, gonadal status, and the site of infusion. Therefore, our objective was to determine the in vivo action of central NPY administration on LH pulses in mice. Frequent blood samples were collected and assayed for LH concentrations from male and female mice that received a central injection of NPY or saline (control). Additional studies were performed in which NPY or saline treated animals received a kisspeptin challenge to evaluate direct effects on GnRH cells, or tissue collection to evaluate transcripts associated with KNDy cells. Intracerebroventricular injection (ICV) of NPY robustly suppressed LH pulses in ovariectomized (OVX) female and gonadectomized (GDX) male mice. However, the same treatment in gonad-intact males yielded variable responses, and analysis in estradiol-replaced OVX female mice revealed an unexpected suppression of LH following brief isoflurane exposure. In assessment of KNDy neurons, we found a statistically significant increase in the abundance of mRNA encoding dynorphin in micro-punches of the arcuate nucleus 1 h after ICV injection of NPY. In further support of the hypothesis that NPY impairs KNDy cells, we found that animals pretreated with NPY or saline had the same response to exogenous kisspeptin, suggesting gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons and gonadotrope cells remain fully responsive to stimulation. We conclude that NPY is sufficient to suppress LH secretion in OVX female and GDX male mice and that this suppression is likely mediated by the KNDy cells in the arcuate nucleus.</p>","PeriodicalId":16535,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Neuroendocrinology","volume":"38 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13572808/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148963457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Parental state dynamically reshapes auditory processing of offspring vocalizations in zebra finches","authors":"Kristina O. Smiley,&nbsp;Felipe A. Cini,&nbsp;Luke Remage-Healey","doi":"10.1111/jne.70266","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jne.70266","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Parental care is critical for offspring survival. For many species, including humans, auditory cues unique to dependent offspring, such as baby cries, elicit the necessary behavior from parents to care for young. Despite this, we know little about how the brain encodes auditory cues specific to offspring. Zebra finches are an excellent model to study this. Zebra finches are biparental, meaning both male and female parents raise the young and rely on auditory cues (begging calls) to elicit chick feeding responses (parental behavior). Begging calls also become individually identifiable by the parents, necessitating higher-order learning/association neural processes. It is well established that the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM), a higher-order region of secondary pallial cortex (analogous to the mammalian secondary auditory cortex), is involved in the perception of complex auditory signals in birds. It is unknown, however, if/how NCM responds to offspring begging calls. To begin testing this, we used high density silicon probes to record single-unit in vivo electrophysiology activity in the NCM of adult parenting and non-parenting zebra finches exposed to playbacks of their own chick's begging calls (parents only), novel age-matched begging calls (parents and non-parents), as well as novel adult male song and pure tone controls. Our results show that NCM neurons in parents respond more strongly (i.e., higher evoked firing rates) to both their own and novel chick begging calls and have higher baseline (spontaneous) firing rates in narrow spiking units relative to non-parents. Furthermore, NCM neurons in parenting females tend to show more selective responses towards their own chick begging calls, whereas those in males do not show similar levels of selectivity. These results provide preliminary evidence that NCM responses are altered during parenting and lay essential groundwork for future studies on how auditory responses may elicit parental behavior.</p>","PeriodicalId":16535,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Neuroendocrinology","volume":"38 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jne.70266","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148919321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early-life environmental enrichment reduces anxiety and induces sex-dependent neuroplasticity in hypothalamic oxytocin and vasopressin neurons","authors":"Samantha Costa Amorim Muniz,&nbsp;João Victor Silva Nani,&nbsp;Naima Jamile dos Santos Marciano,&nbsp;Raquel do Nascimento de Souza,&nbsp;Roberto Laureano-Melo,&nbsp;Wellington da Silva Cortes,&nbsp;Fábio Fagundes da Rocha,&nbsp;André Souza Mecawi","doi":"10.1111/jne.70263","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jne.70263","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Early-life experiences critically shape neuroendocrine systems involved in emotional and social behaviours. The oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP) systems are particularly sensitive to environmental influences during the perinatal period, a developmental window characterized by high neural plasticity. However, the long-term effects of perinatal environmental enrichment (PEE) on hypothalamic OXT and AVP neuroplasticity and their relationship with emotional behaviour remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study investigated whether PEE induces persistent behavioural, structural, and neurochemical changes in OXT and AVP neurons in male and female mice. Male and female mice reared in either PEE or non-enriched environment (NE) conditions were evaluated in adulthood using the elevated plus maze, light/dark box, and sociability/social novelty preference tests. Morphometric analyses assessed soma and nuclear size, as well as OXT and AVP immunoreactivity in neurons of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. PEE reduced anxiety-like behaviour, as evidenced by increased open-arm exploration in the elevated plus maze, particularly in males, and reduced latency to enter the light compartment in the light/dark box. These behavioural effects were accompanied by reduced soma and nuclear dimensions of AVP neurons in PEE males, as well as increased nuclear size and OXT immunoreactivity in both sexes. Correlation analyses showed that smaller AVP neuronal profiles were associated with reduced anxiety-related behavioural measures, whereas larger OXT neuronal dimensions were associated with reduced risk-assessment behaviours. Perinatal environmental enrichment induces long-lasting, sex-dependent structural and neurochemical plasticity in hypothalamic OXT and AVP systems, which may contribute to the enduring modulation of anxiety-related behaviours.</p>","PeriodicalId":16535,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Neuroendocrinology","volume":"38 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13557847/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148920042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optical control of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus kisspeptin neuronal network with a photoswitchable peptide that drives luteinizing hormone release in female mice","authors":"Jian Qiu,&nbsp;Yanyan Lin,&nbsp;Emily Bartram,&nbsp;Janelle M. Tobias,&nbsp;Antonio Muñoz,&nbsp;Xiao Feng Li,&nbsp;Victoria S. Halls,&nbsp;James A. Frank,&nbsp;Martin J. Kelly,&nbsp;Kevin T. O'Byrne","doi":"10.1111/jne.70255","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jne.70255","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion are essential for reproductive function and are thought to be governed by arcuate nucleus kisspeptin Kiss1^ARH neurons via neurokinin B (NKB) signaling through TacR3. However, discrepancies between ex vivo and in vivo pharmacology limit mechanistic understanding of how TacR3 activation regulates pulsatile hormone release. We developed and synthesized a photoswitchable TacR3 agonist (<i>azo</i>-senktide) and characterized its photochemical and pharmacological properties using UV–Vis spectroscopy, TacR3-expressing HEK293T cells, electrophysiology in mouse hypothalamic slices, and in vivo optofluidic delivery combined with light stimulation to assess LH secretion in freely moving mice. <i>Azo</i>-senktide reversibly photoisomerized between inactive (trans) and more potent (cis) conformations. In cells, light activation enhanced TacR3-mediated Ca²⁺ signaling. In brain slices, photostimulation depolarized and increased firing of Kiss1^ARH neurons through a mechanism consistent with the established TacR3–TRPC5 signaling pathway. In vivo, optical activation of <i>azo</i>-senktide in the arcuate nucleus elicited a time-locked LH pulse at an intermediate dose, whereas lower or higher doses were ineffective, indicating a nonlinear, dose-dependent response. These findings demonstrate that temporally gated TacR3 activation via photoswitchable <i>azo</i>-senktide evokes an increase in LH, revealing that neurokinin B signaling in the Kiss1^ARH network depends on activation dynamics, reconciles inconsistencies, and establishes photopharmacology as a powerful approach for probing neuroendocrine timing mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":16535,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Neuroendocrinology","volume":"38 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13553209/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148912219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Regulation of ultradian pulsatility and stress responses in the human hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis","authors":"Belinda Lombard,&nbsp;Thomas J. Upton,&nbsp;Ben Gibbison,&nbsp;David Henley,&nbsp;Georgina Russell,&nbsp;John R. Terry,&nbsp;Stafford L. Lightman,&nbsp;Eder Zavala","doi":"10.1111/jne.70264","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jne.70264","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is a vital neuroendocrine system that maintains homeostasis by regulating stress hormone secretion through tightly controlled circadian and ultradian rhythms. Although rodent studies and mathematical models have clarified the mechanisms of ultradian pulsatility, a quantitative, human-specific description of HPA axis dynamics is lacking. Here, we analyse 24-h high-frequency hormonal profiles from a cohort of healthy humans to quantify inter-individual variability in adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol rhythms and to calibrate a foundational mathematical model of the human HPA axis. The model reproduces key human-specific features, including an asymmetric circadian rhythm peaking at waking and ultradian oscillations with a longer period than those observed in rodents. We show that a simplified representation of the negative feedback between the pituitary and adrenal glands suffices to generate ultradian pulsatility, arising in the model via a Hopf bifurcation. Computational simulations further show how idealised stressors of different intensity, duration and timing perturb HPA axis dynamics, providing a theoretical basis for understanding the heterogeneous stress responses observed in clinical settings. This study provides a quantitative, proof-of-concept framework for human HPA axis regulation, offering insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the individual variability and robustness of hormonal rhythms.</p>","PeriodicalId":16535,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Neuroendocrinology","volume":"38 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jne.70264","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148912395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bonding before birth: Maternal–fetal attachment and maternal cortical connectivity in late pregnancy","authors":"Kathy Ayala,&nbsp;Kezhu Niu,&nbsp;Clíona L. Murray,&nbsp;Kristin Voegtline,&nbsp;Helena J. V. Rutherford","doi":"10.1111/jne.70251","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jne.70251","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Emerging research suggests that pregnancy and motherhood are associated with neural adaptations that support caregiving. Maternal–fetal attachment (MFA), representing the emotional bond between a pregnant woman and their fetus, is thought to be an early precursor to maternal–infant bonding and sensitive caregiving, yet its neural underpinnings remain largely unexplored. Resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) coherence is a well-established measure of regional cortical connectivity and has been implicated in cognitive, attentional, and emotional processes related to parenting and might be implicated in MFA. Thirty-five pregnant women in their third trimester (mean 36.8 gestational weeks) participated. Resting-state EEG was collected, and alpha band coherence was computed for intra-frontal, intra-parietal, and frontoparietal regions. MFA was assessed using the Prenatal Attachment Inventory-Revised (PAI-R). Increased left frontoparietal and intra-frontal alpha coherence was associated with higher scores on the anticipation and interaction subscales of the PAI-R. These associations remained after controlling for parity and gestational age. No significant associations were observed between alpha coherence and the differentiation PAI-R subscale. These findings suggest that individual differences in cortical connectivity are associated with MFA, particularly anticipatory and interactional aspects of psychological engagement with the fetus. Identifying neural correlates of MFA suggests that maternal attachment-related processes toward the fetus are reflected in brain connectivity during pregnancy and offers insight into the neurobiological basis of early bonding.</p>","PeriodicalId":16535,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Neuroendocrinology","volume":"38 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148906332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"When CO2 sensing fails: Protective effects of sex hormones and potential mechanisms","authors":"Tara A. Janes,&nbsp;Silvia Cardani,&nbsp;Silvia Pagliardini","doi":"10.1111/jne.70256","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jne.70256","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Breathing movements driven by the brainstem rhythmogenic neural networks rely on chemosensory inputs to produce a motor output that is homeostatically adjusted to the prevailing metabolic demand. The central CO₂ chemoreflex is a critical component of respiratory neural circuitry, as defects in these sensors cause hypoventilation syndromes, which are typically difficult to manage pharmacologically. Progesterone has long been known to stimulate breathing in both sexes, and remarkably, a potent progestin drug, etonogestrel (ETO), has been shown to enhance CO₂-chemosensitivity in animal models and in a subset of female patients affected by congenital central hypoventilation syndrome. Our recent work shows that systemic chronic ETO treatment recovered the CO₂ chemoreflex in female rats in which &lt;80% of neurons of the key CO₂ chemosensory structure of the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) were eliminated, whereas male rats with similar lesions and ETO serum levels did not show recovery of the CO₂ chemoreflex. Interestingly, female respiratory recovery was associated with increased expression of the pH sensors <i>Task2</i> and <i>Gpr4</i> mRNA in the surviving RTN neurons, suggesting that progestin drugs may recover the CO₂ chemoreflex responses in a sex-specific fashion.</p>","PeriodicalId":16535,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Neuroendocrinology","volume":"38 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13551639/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148906503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Marine flatworms as windows into the evolution of bilaterian neuropeptide signalling","authors":"Ryo Nakamura,&nbsp;Mayuko Hamada,&nbsp;Xavier Bailly,&nbsp;Hirotaka Sakamoto,&nbsp;Tatsuya Sakamoto","doi":"10.1111/jne.70259","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jne.70259","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The evolutionary origin(s) of neuropeptide signalling is still largely unknown. It has been hypothesised that signal transmission via neuropeptides played a crucial role in the regulation of nervous systems in the bilaterian ancestor. Identification, expression and functional analyses of neuropeptides and their receptors across different taxonomic groups are important for better understanding the origin(s) of bilaterian neuropeptide signalling. An example is flatworms belonging to the Platyhelminthes (spiralian protostomes) and Xenacoelomorpha (sister to all Bilateria or sister to Ambulacraria). Despite their simple morphology (i.e., a body plan lacking a coelom and circulatory system), they often possess brain-like central nervous systems and a number of bilaterian-conserved neuropeptides. This feature makes them useful models for analyses of neuropeptides and their links to nervous systems. Although previous studies have revealed orthologous relationships between vertebrate neuropeptides and those found in both marine Platyhelminthes and Xenacoelomorpha, our work suggests possible ancestral functions of vasopressin/oxytocin (VP/OT) peptides (platytocin) in these groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":16535,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Neuroendocrinology","volume":"38 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13551398/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148906370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}