PACAP stimulates functional recovery after spinal cord injury through axonal regeneration.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuroprotective peptide expressed in the central nervous system. Although many studies have shown a neuroprotective effect of PACAP, the mechanism of PACAP in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) is yet to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and underlying mechanism of PACAP in a mouse SCI model where PACAP was delivered via a biodegradable hydrogel.

Expression and distribution of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide receptor in reactive astrocytes induced by global brain ischemia in mice.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide acting as a neuroprotectant. We previously showed that PACAP receptor (PAC1R) immunoreactivity was elevated in reactive astrocytes after stab wound injury. However, the pattern of PAC1R expression in astrocytes after brain injury is still unknown.

PACAP attenuates NMDA-induced retinal damage in association with modulation of the microglia/macrophage status into an acquired deactivation subtype.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) has been known as a neuroprotectant agent in several retinal injury models. However, a detailed mechanism of this effect is still not well understood. In this study, we examined the retinoprotective effects and associated underlying mechanisms of action of PACAP in the mouse N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-induced retinal injury model, focusing on the relationship between PACAP and retinal microglia/macrophage (MG/MΦ) status.

Neuroprotective effect of endogenous pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide on spinal cord injury.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuroprotective peptide expressed in the central nervous system. To date, changes in the expression and effect of endogenous PACAP have not been clarified with respect to spinal cord injury (SCI). The aim of this study was to elucidate the expression pattern and function of endogenous PACAP on the contusion model of SCI using heterozygous PACAP knockout (PACAP(+/-)) and wild-type mice.

IL-6 and PACAP receptor expression and localization after global brain ischemia in mice.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) exerts a neuroprotective action against ischemic damage. This action is mediated by the interleukin-6 (IL-6) pathway. However, as the expression patterns of PACAP receptors and IL-6 following ischemia are not understood, we evaluated them in the mouse hippocampus in response to ischemia induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion.