Studies of the cardiovascular effects of nociceptin and related peptides

Nociceptin, a novel opioid peptide, and its ORL1 receptor share structural similarities with other opioid ligands and receptors. Although NC exerts ev ident cardiovascular effects at a central and peripheral level, its role in homeostatic mechanisms and disease states are just beginning to be underst ood, as only recently selective receptor antagonists became available. In t his review, some of the new observations regarding the cardiovascular actio ns of NC, related peptides and newly synthesized receptor antagonists are d iscussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.