Nociceptin (orphanin FQ), a neuropeptide of 17 amino acids, is the natural agonist of opioid receptor-like-1 (OPRL1), a G protein-coupled receptor whose human and murine cDNAs had previously been identified. This neuropeptide is
endowed with pronociceptive activity in vivo. Nociceptin is derived from a larger precursor, prepronociceptin (PNOC).
NCBI Summary:
This gene encodes a preproprotein that is proteolytically processed to generate multiple protein products. These products include nociceptin, nocistatin, and orphanin FQ2 (OFQ2). Nociceptin, also known as orphanin FQ, is a 17-amino acid neuropeptide that binds to the nociceptin receptor to induce increased pain sensitivity, and may additionally regulate body temperature, learning and memory, and hunger. Another product of the encoded preproprotein, nocistatin, may inhibit the effects of nociceptin. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2015]
General function
Ligand, Hormone
Comment
Cellular localization
Secreted
Comment
Ovarian function
Ovulation, Luteinization
Comment
Chandra P. Leo, et al 2001 used
DNA array to analyze changes in preovulatory gene expression in the rat
Ovary. They reported that
the
screening identified a group of candidate genes whose ovarian
expression and gonadotropin regulation was hitherto unknown. The
induction of three of these genes, encoding cutaneous fatty acid-binding
protein, the interleukin-4 receptor alpha chain, and prepronociceptin, was
confirmed and further characterized by Northern blot analysis. In addition,
in situ hybridization analysis showed that hCG administration resulted in
exclusive or predominant expression of all three genes in theca cells.
Expression regulated by
LH
Comment
Effects of SCH 486757, a nociceptin-1 receptor agonist, on fertility and reproductive hormone levels in female CRL:CD SD rats. Enright BP et al. (2013) SCH 486757 is a nociceptin-1 receptor agonist that was in development as an antitussive. Studies were conducted to characterize its effects on female fertility and to examine its potential modes of action. Female rats were administered up to 20 mg/kg SCH 486757 before/during mating through gestation day (GD) 7; female fertility and embryonic development were assessed on GD 14. In a subsequent study, pregnant rats were dosed up to 50 mg/kg SCH 486757 from GD 0 to 7. Reproductive hormones were assessed on GD 1, 3, 5, and 7, and embryonic development was assessed on GD 14. A subset of dosed dams were allowed to deliver, were subsequently re-mated, and reproductive hormones and fertility were assessed on GD 7 and 14, respectively. To determine the effects of SCH 486757 on nonpregnant rats, doses of up to 50 mg/kg SCH 486757 were administered for 4 days beginning on the day of estrus; reproductive hormones were assessed after the final dose. Female rats administered ≥20 mg/kg SCH 486757 exhibited abnormal estrous cycles; decreased fertility, number of corpora lutea, and implantation sites; and increased pre- and postimplantation loss. In general, administration of SCH486757 was associated with lower luteinizing hormone (LH) progesterone (P4), and estradiol (E2) levels in pregnant rats. These effects on fertility/embryonic development and reproductive hormones exhibited reversibility post dosing. Nonpregnant rats in the 50-mg/kg group exhibited apparent decreases in P4 and E2 levels, with no apparent effects on LH values. The SCH 486757-related effects on fertility and embryonic development were likely the result of decreases in P4, E2, and/or LH, rather than being due to decreased prolactin levels.//////////////////
Ovarian localization
Theca, Luteal cells
Comment
Follicle stages
Preovulatory, Corpus luteum
Comment
Phenotypes
Mutations
1 mutations
Species: mouse
Mutation name: None
type: null mutation fertility: fertile Comment:Manabe et al. (1998) showed that mice lacking the nociceptin receptor possess greater learning ability and have better
memory than control mice.