Description
Nocistatin is a neuromodulatory peptide that exhibits antinociceptive, neuroprotective, and anxiogenic activities. Ca2+-sensitive (BK, IK, SK) K+ channels mediate the inhibitory action of nocistatin on muscle contractions in the uterus. Nocistatin activates transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels via GPCR/PLC/PKC signaling pathways and inhibits thermal hyperalgesia induced by nociceptin. Nocistatin also inhibits memory acquisition impairment induced by nociceptin. Additionally, this peptide inhibits release of 5-HT in synaptosomes and induces anxiogenic activity in animal models undergoing elevated plus maze testing.