Cortistatin (neuropeptide)

Precortistatin is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the CORT is_associated_with::gene. The 105 amino acid residue human precortistatin in turn is cleaved into cortistatin-17 and cortistatin-29. Cortistatin-17 is the only active peptide derived from the precursor. Cortistatin (or more specifically cortistatin-17) is a is_associated_with::neuropeptide that is expressed in inhibitory is_associated_with::neurons of the is_associated_with::cerebral cortex, and which has a strong structural similarity to is_associated_with::somatostatin. Unlike somatostatin, when infused into the brain, it enhances slow-wave sleep. It binds to sites in the cortex, hippocampus and the amygdala.

Function
Cortistatin is a is_associated_with::neuropeptide with strong structural similarity to is_associated_with::somatostatin (both peptides belong to the same family). It binds to all known is_associated_with::somatostatin receptors, and shares many pharmacological and functional properties with is_associated_with::somatostatin, including the depression of neuronal activity. However, it also has many properties distinct from somatostatin, such as induction of slow-wave sleep, apparently by antagonism of the excitatory effects of acetylcholine on the cortex, reduction of locomotor activity, and activation of cation selective currents not responsive to somatostatin.