This document discusses the role of neuropeptides and their receptors in the brain and body. It notes that: 1) Neuropeptides are produced by nerve cells in the brain and bind to receptors in the limbic system, which is involved in emotions, and the hypothalamus, which regulates homeostasis. 2) Many neuropeptides act as hormones, being produced in one part of the body and traveling to receptors elsewhere. Insulin, for example, is produced in the pancreas but also in the brain. 3) Neuropeptide receptors are found throughout the body, including in the immune system, suggesting these biochemicals play a role in modulating and directing immune cell activity.

1. The Healing Brain
A Scientific Reader
Robert Ornstein and
Charles Swencionis,
(editors)

3. Candace
Pert

4. Receptors

5. Receptors for External Opiates
(Exogenous ligand)
morphine
heroinopium
codeine

6. Endogenous Ligands
(internal opiates)
Beta-endorphin
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/micro/gallery/endorphin/endorph2.jpg

7. Peptide produced by nerve cells
in the brain
http://pdelagrange.free.fr/povlab/demopic/neurons.jpg

8. Neuropeptides
Opiate receptors
20,000 amino acids
20 amino acids
阿片制劑感受器

10. The Biochemistry of Emotions

11. Hypothalamus
( 丘腦下部 )
(homeostasis)
Pituitary
( 垂體 )
(regulates hormone)
Amygdala
( 杏仁核 )
(fear)

12. Opiate receptors in limbic system

13. Hypothalamus
丘腦下部
40-fold higher with
opiate receptors
Walter B Cannon

14. Many of the neuropeptides are
hormones produced by the glands
and not by nerve cells, e.g. insulin
胰島素

15. Hormones stores in
one place of the
body and travel to its
receptors in other
parts of the body
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/micro/gallery/hormones/hormone.jpg

16. 夷島素
Insulin
• Insulin secreted by pancreas
• BUT—insulin also found to be made and
stored in the brain
• In amygdala and hypothalamus

17. Nodal points
• Points that receive a lot
of emotional modulation
• We have found that for
virtually all the senses for
which we know the entry
area, the spot is always a
nodal point for
neuropeptides receptors

18. Angiotensin
• Mediates thirst
• Found in brain and in
kidney
血管緊張素

19. CCK
• Found in brain, gut
and spleen
• Food satiety –
makes you not want
to eat

20. • From esophagus
to the large
intestine – all
lined with nerve,
neuropeptides
opiate receptors

22. Cells in immune syst em
Monocyt es

23. The new
discovery I want
t o emphasize
here is t hat every
neuropept ide
recept or t hat we
have looked f or
is also on t he
human
monocyt es.

24. These
emotion- affecting
biochemicals
[neuropeptides]
actually appear to
control the routing
and migration of
monocytes.

25. Thecells of the
immune system not only
have receptors for
these various
neuropeptides, …they
also make the
neuropeptides
themselves.