Rat Urocortin 2 ELISA determines urocortin 2 in rat plasma and serum samples.
- Dynamic Range: 1.563 - 100 ng/mL
- Sensitivity: 1.563 ng/mL
- Incubation: 20 hours
Urocortin 2 (Ucn 2), also known as stresscopin-related peptide, is a novel predicted neuropeptide related to corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). The peptide consisting of 38 amino acid residues was first demonstrated to be expressed centrally and to bind selectively to type 2 CRF receptor (CRFR2)1). In the rodent, Ucn 2 transcripts were shown to be expressed in the discrete regions of the central nervous system including stress-related cell groups in the hypothalamus and brainstem1). More recently, the expression of Ucn 2 transcripts was detected in the olfactory bulb, pituitary, cortex, hypothalamus, and spinal cord2). Ucn 2 mRNA was also found to be expressed widely in a variety of peripheral tissues, most highly in the skin and skeletal muscle tissues3). Ucn 2-like immunoreactivity was detected by RIA in acid extracts of mouse brain, muscle, and skin3). Immunohistochemically Ucn 2 was found in both skin epidermis and adnexal structures and in the skeletal muscle myocytes3). Ucn 2 gene transcription was stimulated in the hypothalamus and brainstem by glucocorticoid administration to the mouse and inhibited by removal of glucocorticoids by adrenalectomy, suggesting a putative link between the CRFR1 and CRFR2 pathways2). On the other hand, in the rat a stressor-specific regulation of Ucn 2 mRNA expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus was demonstrated, which raised the possibility of a modularly role of Ucn 2 mRNA in stress-induced alteration of anterior and posterior pituitary function, depending on the type of stress4). Administration of dexamethasone to the mouse resulted in a decrease of Ucn 2 mRNA levels in the back skin region. Adrenalectomy significantly increased Ucn 2 mRNA levels in the skin, and the levels were reduced back to normal levels after corticoid replacement 3).CRFR2 is found in cardiomyocytes and in endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the systemic vasculature. Ucn 2 is expressed in the mouse cardiomyocytes. In the mouse, Ucn 2 treatment augmented heart rate, exhibited potent inotropic and lusitropic actions on the left ventricle, and induced a downward shift of the diastolic pressure-volume relation5). Ucn 2 also reduced systemic arterial pressure, associated with a lowering of systemic arterial elastance and systemic vascular resistance. The effects of Ucn 2 were specific to CRFR2 function and independent of beta-adrenergic receptors. These experiments demonstrated the potent cardiovascular physiologic actions of Ucn 2 in the both wild-type and cardiomyopathic mice and support a potential beneficial use of Ucn 2 in congestive heart failure treatment5). The use of Ucn 2 was also proposed to treat ischemic heart disease because of its potent cardioprotective effect in the mouse heart and its minimal impact on the hypothalamic stress axis6). Administration of Ucn 2 to the mouse prevented the loss of skeletal muscle mass resulting from disuse due to casting, corticosteroid treatment, and nerve damage. In addition, Ucn 2 treatment prevented the loss of skeletal muscle force and myocyte cross-sectional area that accompanied muscle mass losses resulting from disuse due to casting. In normal muscles of the mouse, Ucn 2 increased skeletal muscle mass and force. It was thus proposed that Ucn 2 might find utility in the treatment of skeletal muscle wasting diseases including age-related muscle loss or sarcopenia7).Mouse urocortin 2 (Ucn 2) is a new peptide predicted from mouse cDNA sequence and its physiologic and pathophysiologic significance has not yet been fully elucidated. However, the experimental data presented to date provided evidence for the important physiologic roles of Ucn 2 and urge the necessity of further investigation of the peptide from various points of view.We have already developed mouse/rat urocortin 1 (Ucn1) EIA kit (YK210), mouse urocortin 2 (Ucn2) EIA kit (YK190) and mouse/rat urocortin 3 (Ucn3) EIA kit (YK200). This time, as a part of tools for urocortin research, our laboratory developed rat urocortin 2 (Ucn2) EIA kit (YK191), which highly specific for rat Ucn 2 with almost no crossreaction to Ucn 1 (mouse, rat), Ucn 2 (mouse), Ucn 3 (mouse, rat), and CRF (mouse, rat, human). The kit can be used for measurement of Ucn 2 in rat plasma or serum with high sensitivity. It will be a specifically useful tool for rat Ucn 2 research.
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