A modified version of the natural peptide humanin (called HNG) was given to mice and was found to raise acetylcholine levels in the brain, boost dopamine release, and slightly improve memory without changing how active the mice were. The study suggests HNG can make nerve cells release chemicals more efficiently, which might help brain function.

Humanin (HN) is an endogenous 24-residue peptide that was first identified as a protective factor against neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We previously demonstrated that the highly potent HN derivative HNG (HN with substitution of Gly for Ser14) ameliorated cognitive impairment in AD mouse models. Despite the accumulating evidence on the antagonizing effects of HN against cognitive deficits, the mechanisms behind these effects remain to be elucidated. The extracellular fluid in the hippocampus of wild-type young mice was collected by microdialysis and the amounts of neurotransmitters were measured. The kinetic analysis of exocytosis was performed by amperometry using neuroendocrine cells. The hippocampal acetylcholine (ACh) levels were increased by intraperitoneal injection of HNG. HNG did not affect the physical activities of the mice but modestly improved their object memory. In a neuronal cell model, rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells, HNG enhanced ACh-induced dopamine release. HNG increased ACh-induced secretory events and vesicular quantal size in primary neuroendocrine cells. These findings suggest that HN directly enhances regulated exocytosis in neurons, which can contribute to the improvement of cognitive functions. The regulator of exocytosis is a novel physiological role of HN, which provides a molecular clue for HN's effects on brain functions under health and disease.