Endocrine Abstracts

Neurokinin B has been traditionally regarded as a neuropeptide being confined to the CNS, with no peripheral expression. This situation was the cause of some confusion as its preferred receptor (NK3R) is found mainly on peripheral organs such as the portal vein, mesenteric vessels and the heart with relatively low levels in the brain. In 2000 our laboratory reported the placenta to be an abundant peripheral endocrine source of NKB, giving rise to significant plasma concentrati...