, 2004)). Although clear interactions

between NPY and pro-stress systems in the regulation of stress-related emotionality still need to be established, it is likely that the balance of these neuropeptides and transmitters in stress-related circuits plays a pivotal role in mediating resilience to stress-associated responses discussed in this review. Human studies have identified associations between NPY and stress resilience. In healthy human subjects, plasma NPY levels have been shown to rise in response to stress (Morgan 3rd and et al, 2001, Morgan 3rd and et al, 2000 and Morgan 3rd and et al, 2002). For example, when military soldiers underwent an interrogation selleck screening library model of extreme psychological stress to mimic the captive experience of prisoners of war, higher levels of NPY following interrogation were present in soldiers displaying lower psychological distress or belonging to special operations forces (Morgan 3rd and et al, 2000 and Morgan 3rd and et al, 2002). NPY levels were positively associated with feelings of dominance and self-confidence, and superior performance under interrogation stress (Morgan 3rd and et al, 2001, Morgan selleck inhibitor 3rd and et al, 2000 and Morgan 3rd and et al, 2002). Genetic variants of the preproNPY gene have been associated with differential stress responses

and emotionality (Mickey and et al, 2011 and Zhou and et al, 2008). Specific NPY haplotypes have been correlated to postmortem levels of NPY mRNA in the brain, plasma NPY concentrations, and brain activity in response to stressful challenges (Zhou et al., 2008). Individuals possessing

a genotype associated with low NPY expression report more negative emotional experiences during a painful stressor, exhibit greater amygdalar reactivity in response to threat-related facial images, and exhibit low stress resilience compared to high NPY genotype carriers (Mickey and et al, 2011 and Zhou and et al, 2008). Haplotype-driven NPY expression is also inversely correlated to trait anxiety in healthy individuals (Zhou et al., 2008). Studies in humans with stress-related psychiatric through disorders have also revealed a role for NPY in resilience (Eaton et al., 2007, Morales-Medina et al., 2010, Sah and et al, 2009, Rasmusson and et al, 2000a and Morgan 3rd and et al, 2003), although the evidence stems primarily from populations with PTSD and depression. Rodent studies have provided a wealth of evidence for NPY in resilience to anxiety (see below), but few human studies have been conducted to determine the profile of NPY in generalized anxiety, obsessive compulsive, social anxiety, and panic disorders. One study found an association between a single-nucleotide polymorphism of the NPY gene and increased risk for generalized anxiety disorder in individuals exposed to high stress (Amstadter et al., 2010).