Neurotensin: peptide for the next millennium

Neurotensin is an endogenous tridecapeptide neurotransmitter (pGlu-Leu-Tyr- Glu-Asn-Lys-Pro-Arg-Arg-Pro-Try-Ile-Leu-OH) that was discovered by Carraway and Leeman in bovine hypothalami in the early 1970s. Since then this pepti de has been the subject of a multitude of articles detailing discoveries re lated to its activity, receptors, localization, synthesis, and interactions with other systems. This review article does not intend to summarize again all the history of this fascinating peptide and its receptors, since this has been done quite well by others. The reader will be directed to these ot her reviews, where appropriate. Instead, this review attempts to provide a summary of current knowledge about neurotensin, why it is an important pept ide to study, and where the field is heading. Special emphasis is placed on the behavioral studies, particularly with reference to agonists, antagonis ts, and antisense studies, as well as, the interaction of neurotensin with other neurotransmitters. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .