Psychiatric implications of PACAP signaling pathway

: Studies on genetically modified mice for investigating the role of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) in the brain have revealed a previously uncharacterized function of this neuropeptidergic signaling in the regulation of psychomotor behaviors. In addition, recent clinical studies investigating single nucleotide polymorphisms and copy number variations in the PACAP and its receptor genes have associated the variations with major psychiatric disorders and stress-dependent mental disorders. Here, I briefly review these recent advances in the field and make this an opportunity to consider future direction of research.