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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2009 Aug 25.
Published in final edited form as: Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2008;48:393–423. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pharmtox.48.113006.094812

Table 1. Neuropeptides in the Nervous and Endocrine Systems.

Neuropeptide
 Regulatory Function
enkephalin analgesia, pain relief
beta-endorphin analgesia, pain relief
ACTH steroid production
α-MSH skin pigmentation, appetite
CRF (corticotropin releasing factor) ACTH secretion
insulin glucose metabolism
glucagon glucose metabolism
galanin cognition
NPY obesity, blood pressure
somatostatin growth regulation
vasopressin water balance
calcitonin calcium regulation
cholecystokinin learning, memory, appetite
PACAP neuronal differentiation

Peptide neurotransmitters and hormones are collectively termed neuropeptides. There are more than 100 neuropeptides, and many have yet to be identified. Neuropeptides typically consist of small peptides of approximately 3-40 residues. Examples of several neuropeptides and their regulatory functions are listed. Abbreviations are adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), and neuropeptide Y (NPY).