Urocortin.

Urocortin (Ucn) is a 40 amino acid peptide which is closely related to corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF). It is expressed in specific regions of the brain but is also detectable in other organs notably the heart. Although some of the effects of Ucn in the nervous system such as enhanced anxiety and activity mimic those of CRF, Ucn is a much more potent suppressor of appetite/feeding behaviour. Moreover, Ucn has much more potent effects on the cardiovascular system than CRF, including enhanced cardiac contractility/heart rate and enhanced resistance of cardiac cells to injury induced, for example, by ischaemia/reperfusion. This suggests Ucn may play a key role in the response of the cardiovascular system to stress. In addition, Ucn represents a novel cardioprotective agent which may be of therapeutic use in treating the damaging effects of cardiac ischaemia and subsequent reperfusion.