• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.7
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• pp.369-375
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• 2014

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a pleiotropic bioactive peptide that was first isolated from an ovine hypothalamus in 1989. PACAP belongs to the secretin/glucagon/vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) superfamily. PACAP is widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems and acts as a neurotransmitter, neuromodulator, and neurotrophic factor via three major receptors (PAC1, VPAC1, and VPAC2). Recent studies have shown a neuroprotective role of PACAP using in vitro and in vivo models. In this review, we briefly summarize the current findings on the neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects of PACAP in different brain injury models, such as cerebral ischemia, Parkinson's disease (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review will provide information for the future development of therapeutic strategies in treatment of these neurodegenerative diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.101-111
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• 2005

배 경: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)은 양의 시상하부에서 추출된 신경펩타이드 호르몬으로 난소에도 존재하여 배양된 과립막 세포에서 스테로이드합성과 cyclic AMP 형성을 촉진함이 보고되었다. 목 적: 흰쥐 난소를 실험 모델로 사용하여 배란시 황체화호르몬 (luteinizing hormone; LH)에 의해 유도된 PACAP과 PACAP 수용체의 유전자 발현양상과 신호 전달경로를 규명하고자 하였다. 재료 및 방법: 미성숙 흰쥐의 배란전 난포를 체외 배양하면서 LH로 처리하고 PACAP 및 PACAP수용체의 유전자 발현을 보기 위해서는 Northern blot 분석과 in situ hybridization (ISH)을, 그리고 단백질 수준의 PACAP 검색을 위해서는 enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 분석을 이용하였다. 결 과: LH 처리 후 Northern blot상의 PACAP 유전자 발현은 6~9시간에 일시적으로 최고치에 도달하였으며 ISH로 보아 과립막 세포에서 발현됨을 알 수 있었다. ELISA 분석 상 PACAP 단백질도 LH처리 후 6~12시간에 최고치를 나타내었으며, PACAP 수용체 mRNA 역시 3~9시간에 최고치로 과립막 세포에서 발현되었다. Adenylate cyclase (AC) 억제제인 MDL12330A 처리시 LH로 발현된 PACAP mRNA가 감소되며, AC의 활성제인 forskolin 처리에는 LH시와 유사한 PACAP mRNA의 발현양상을 나타내었다. 그러나 protein kinase C (PKC)의 억제제인 chelerythrine과 2-0-tetradecanolphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) 처리로는 PACAP 의 유전자 발현에 영향을 주지 못하였다. 5-lipoxygenase의 억제제인 MK886이나 nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA)로 처리한 결과 LH로 유도된 PACAP 유전자의 발현이 감소되었으나, cyclooxygenase의 억제제인 indomethacin은 별로 영향을 주지 못하였다. MEK와 p38의 억제제인 PD98059와 SB203580도 LH로 촉진 된 PACAP의 유전자 발현을 농도 의존적으로 억제하였다. 결 론 : 배란전 난포에서 PACAP과 PACAP 수용체의 유전자 발현은 모두 LH의 폭발적 분비에 의해 유도되어 일시적으로 과립막 세포에서 나타나 배란을 위한 국소적인 조절 작용을 할 것으로 추정되며, LH로 촉진된 PACAP 유전자 발현을 위한 신호전달은 cAMP-PKA, lipoxygenase 및 MAP kinase 경로를 통하는 것으로 사료된다.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2001

Pituitary adenyl ate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) was originally isolated from the ovine hypothalamus and stimulated cAMP production in anterior pituitary cells. It is known that PACAP stimulates cAMP accumulation and contributes to the spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in rat testis. The principal aim of this study is to determinate the distribution of PACAP mRNA and protein in adult rat testis. For this study, we used in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry techniques in adult rat testis. PACAP mRNA was stage specifically expressed in seminiferous tubules. Positive signals of PACAP mRNA were detected in the developing germ cells at stages HI-VII of the epithelial cycle. The strongest signals of PACAP mRNA and protein were detected in round spermatids at stages V to early VII of the cycle. These results demonstrate that PACAP which is synthesised in the developing germ cells contributes to the spermatogenesis in rat testis. Thus, we suggest that PACAP plays a critical role in the function of testis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2006

Objective: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), a novel hypothalamic neuropeptide, has been suggested to play a role in ovarian folliculogenesis. The present study evaluated the effect of PACAP on the growth of preantral follicles. Methods: Preantral follicles were mechanically isolated from ovaries of 21-day-old rats and cultured in groups for 3 days in serum-free medium in the absence or presence of PACAP-38 ($10^{-6}M$). Results: Treatment with PACAP-38 resulted in an increase in follicle diameter by 75% whereas treatment with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) increased follicle diameter by 65%. PACAP-38 treatment enhanced the granulosa cell proliferation as measured by thymidine incorporation analysis. Furthermore, the production of progesterone by cultured granulosa cells and GFSHR-17 cell line was stimulated by PACAP-38. Interestingly, PACAP enhanced FSH action on stimulation of SF-1 and aromatase gene expression. Conclusion: The present results demonstrate that PACAP stimulated preantral follicle growth by potentiating proliferation and by stimulating steroidogenesis.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 1998

The present study was performed to analyze the gene expressions of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide(PACAP) and its receptor in the rat uterus, a candidate for novel extrahypothalamic source and target. The PACAP cDNA fragments corresponding to the common exon region which is found in both the rat hypothalamus and testis were produced from all tissue samples including the rat uterus by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). No PCR product was amplified from the rat hypothalamic, pituitary, ovarian and uterine samples when the 5' primer corresponding to the testis-specific exon 1 region was used, while the predicted size of product was detected from the testis sample. RT-PCR using the uterine RNA and specific primers for the PACAP receptor yielded products with predicted sizes. Transcripts for the rat uterine PACAP receptor were identified as type I isoforms with hip-hop and hip- or hop-type inserts. After pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (15 IU) treatment of immature rats (day 25), the level of PACAP mRNA was increased in 24 h and 48 h group, and was declined to the lowest in 72 h group. The present study shows the presence of transcripts for PACAP and its receptor isoform in the rat uterus. These finding ssuggest that the uterine PACAP ight act as a novel autocrine and/or paracrine factor via its specific receptors on the reglulation of rat uterine function and physiology during the reproductive cycle.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.435-440
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) on the pacemaker activity of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in mouse colon and to identify the underlying mechanisms of PACAP action. Spontaneous pacemaker activity of colonic ICC and the effects of PACAP were studied using electrophysiological recordings. Exogenously applied PACAP induced hyperpolarization of the cell membrane and inhibited pacemaker frequency in a dose-dependent manner (from 0.1 nM to 100 nM). To investigate cyclic AMP (cAMP) involvement in the effects of PACAP on ICC, SQ-22536 (an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase) and cell-permeable 8-bromo-cAMP were used. SQ-22536 decreased the frequency of pacemaker potentials, and cell-permeable 8-bromo-cAMP increased the frequency of pacemaker potentials. The effects of SQ-22536 on pacemaker potential frequency and membrane hyperpolarization were rescued by co-treatment with glibenclamide (an ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channel blocker). However, neither $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a competitive inhibitor of NO synthase) nor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-${\alpha}$]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase) had any effect on PACAP-induced activity. In conclusion, this study describes the effects of PACAP on ICC in the mouse colon. PACAP inhibited the pacemaker activity of ICC by acting through ATP-sensitive $K^+$ channels. These results provide evidence of a physiological role for PACAP in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility through the modulation of ICC activity.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1999.10b
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• pp.178.1-178
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• 1999

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1844-1853
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• 2019

Objective: We investigated how pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) affects embryonic development during pre-in vitro maturation (pre-IVM) using porcine oocytes isolated from small follicles. Methods: We divided the follicles into the experimental groups by size (SF, small follicles; MF, medium follicles) and treated with and without PACAP and cultured for 18 hours (PreSF[-]PACAP; without PACAP, Pre-SF[+]PACAP; with PACAP) before undergoing IVM. The gene expression related to extracellular matrix formation (amphiregulin, epiregulin, and hyaluronan synthase 2 [HAS2]) and apoptosis (Bcl-2-associated X [BAX], B-cell lymphoma 2, and cysteine-aspartic acid protease 3) was investigated after maturation. The impact on developmental competence was assessed by the cleavage and blastocyst rate and total cell number of blastocysts in embryos generated from parthenogenesis (PA) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Results: Cleavage rates in the Pre-SF(+)PACAP after PA were significantly higher than SF and Pre-SF(-)PACAP (p<0.05). The cleavage rates between MF and Pre- SF(+)PACAP groups yielded no notable differences after IVF. Pre-SF(+)PACAP displayed the higher rate of blastocyst formation and greater total cell number than SF and Pre-SF(-)PACAP (p<0.05). Cumulus cells showed significant upregulation of HAS2 mRNA in the Pre-SF(+)PACAP compared to the SF (p<0.05). In comparison to other groups, the Pre-SF(+)PACAP group displayed a downregulation in mRNA expression of BAX in matured oocytes (p<0.05). Conclusion: The PACAP treatment during pre-IVM improved the developmental potential of porcine oocytes derived from SF by regulating cumulus expansion and apoptosis of oocytes.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2024

Present study aimed to investigate the temporal changes in expression of some reproductive hormones in testis, originally found in hypothalamus and pituitary. Rats were sacrificed on postnatal day 23 (PND23; immature), pubertal (PND53) and PND 81 (young adult). The testicular RNAs were extracted, and semi-quantitative PCRs for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), kisspeptin 1 (KiSS1), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), LH subunits and LH receptor were performed. Transcript levels of GnRH and KiSS1 at PND23 were significantly higher than levels of PND53 and PND81 (p<0.001). PACAP mRNA level at PND23 was significantly lower than those of PND53 and PND81 (p<0.001). The mRNA levels of both testis type and pituitary type luteinizing hormone β subunit (tLHβ and pLHβ, respectively) at PND23 were significantly lower than levels of PND53 and PND81 (p<0.001). The mRNA level of glycoprotein hormone common alpha subunit (Cgα) at PND23 was significantly lower than those of PND53 and PND81 (p<0.001). Present study revealed the intratesticular expression of KiSS1 and GnRH showed a very similar trend while the expression of PACAP in the testis showed reversed pattern. The expressions of LHβ subunits (tLHβ and pLHβ) were very low during immature stage then increased significantly during puberty and early adulthood. Our attempt to study the local role(s) of intratesticular factors will be helpful to achieve precise understanding on the testis physiology and pathology.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.339-350
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• 1999

The present study was attempted to examine the effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) on catecholamine (CA) secretion evoked by cholinergic stimulation, membrane depolarization and calcium mobilization from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland. The perfusion of PACAP (10 nM) into an adrenal vein for 60 min produced a great inhibition in CA secretion evoked by ACh $(5.32{\times}10^{-3}\;M),$ high $K^+\;(5.6{\times}10^{-2}\;M),$ DMPP $(10^{-4}\;M\;for\;2\;min),$ McN-A-343 $(10^{-4}\;M\;for\;2\;min),$ cyclopiazonic acid $(10^{-5}\;M\;for\;4\;min)$ and Bay-K-8644 $(10^{-5}\;M\;for\;4\;min).$ Also, in the presence of neuropeptide (NPY), which is known to be co-localized with norepinephrine in peripheral sympathetic nerves, CA secretory responses evoked by ACh, high potassium, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644 and cyclopiazonic acid were also significantly depressed. However, in adrenal glands preloaded with PACAP (10 nM) under the presence of VIP antagonist $[(Lys^1,\;Pro^{2.5},\;Arg^{3.4},\;Tyr^6)-VIP\;(3\;{\mu}M)]$ for 20 min, CA secretory responses evoked by ACh, high potassium, DMPP, McN-A-343, Bay-K-8644 and cyclopiazonic acid were not altered greatly in comparison to the case of PACAP-treatment only. Taken together, these results suggest that PACAP causes the marked inhibition of CA secretion evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors as well as by membrane depolarization, indicating that this effect may be mediated by inhibiting influx of extracellular calcium and release in intracellular calcium in the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells.