Neurotensin
Evidence: CCognitive / Neuro
Evidence Snapshot
What this grade covers
Direct human administration and pharmacokinetic data establish peripheral human physiology. Evidence for therapeutic cognitive or neuropsychiatric efficacy of administered full-length neurotensin is not established.
Regulatory Context
Neurotensin is an endogenous human peptide studied in research and controlled human infusion studies; it is not an FDA-approved drug. No subject-specific FDA regulatory action has been identified in the current source set, and the absence of FDA approval does not itself indicate that Neurotensin is unsafe.
Research Takeaway
Mature Neurotensin is a distinct peptide product of the human NTS precursor and is not interchangeable with Neuromedin N, large Neuromedin N, or Neurotensin fragments.
Evidence boundary: Shared precursor origin and overlapping receptor pharmacology do not permit evidence transfer.
See all 6 evidence claims →Quick Summary
Neurotensin is a mature 13-amino-acid human peptide cleaved from the NTS precursor, distinct from Neuromedin N, large Neuromedin N, and Neurotensin fragments such as NT(8-13). Multiple controlled human intravenous infusion studies, dating back to the 1980s, have directly measured Neurotensin's pharmacokinetics and its effects on gastrointestinal motility, gastric acid secretion, and selected gut hormones. This evidence establishes human peripheral physiology and rapid plasma clearance; it does not establish therapeutic efficacy for any cognitive, neuropsychiatric, or other clinical use.
Mechanism & Research Overview
In controlled human infusion studies, intact Neurotensin is rapidly degraded in plasma (with substantial conversion to the NT(1-8) fragment) and has measurably inhibited gastric acid and pepsin output, delayed gastric emptying, and increased colonic contraction duration. Because circulating Neurotensin breaks down quickly into fragments, studies that isolate and test only a fragment such as NT(8-13) must be treated as fragment-specific evidence, not evidence for the intact, full-length peptide.
Evidence Claims
Individual scientific statements drawn from the sources cited below, each shown with the specific evidence boundary that statement does not establish.
Supported
Mature Neurotensin is a distinct peptide product of the human NTS precursor and is not interchangeable with Neuromedin N, large Neuromedin N, or Neurotensin fragments.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Shared precursor origin and overlapping receptor pharmacology do not permit evidence transfer.
Sources: NTS - Neurotensin/neuromedin N - Homo sapiens (Human)
Supported
Full-length Neurotensin has been administered intravenously to humans in multiple studies, with directly measured pharmacokinetic, gastrointestinal, and endocrine effects.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: These are predominantly small peripheral-physiology studies and do not establish cognitive or neuropsychiatric treatment efficacy.
Sources: Neurotensin infusion in man: pharmacokinetics and effect on gastrointestinal and pituitary hormones; Effect of neurotensin on gastric function in man; The metabolism of intravenously infused neurotensin in man and its chromatographic characterization in human plasma; Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of neurotensin in man; Neurotensin increases colonic motility
Supported
Human studies show that circulating intact Neurotensin is rapidly metabolized and can alter gastrointestinal motor and secretory physiology.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Peripheral endocrine/GI pharmacology should not be presented as proof of central therapeutic action.
Sources: Neurotensin infusion in man: pharmacokinetics and effect on gastrointestinal and pituitary hormones; Effect of neurotensin on gastric function in man; The metabolism of intravenously infused neurotensin in man and its chromatographic characterization in human plasma; Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of neurotensin in man; Neurotensin increases colonic motility
Supported
NT(8-13) and other Neurotensin fragments must be treated separately from full-length Neurotensin when interpreting experimental evidence.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Fragment-only outcomes are FRAGMENT_CONTEXT and cannot independently verify a full-length Neurotensin efficacy or safety claim.
Sources: The metabolism of intravenously infused neurotensin in man and its chromatographic characterization in human plasma; Effect of neurotensin and neurotensin fragments on gastric acid secretion in man
Supported
Human Neurotensin infusion studies document short plasma half-life and measurable physiological actions, but the available studies are too small and short to establish chronic-use safety.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Do not convert short experimental infusion tolerability into a general safety claim.
Sources: Neurotensin infusion in man: pharmacokinetics and effect on gastrointestinal and pituitary hormones; The metabolism of intravenously infused neurotensin in man and its chromatographic characterization in human plasma; Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of neurotensin in man
Supported
No therapeutic efficacy claim is frozen for Neurotensin in Stage 3A.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Human physiology and PK are not treatment efficacy.
Safety & Evidence Limitations
Considerations reported in the sources cited on this page — not a complete list of every possible risk, and not medical advice.
Safety Consideration
Neurotensin has inhibited gastric acid/pepsin secretion, delayed gastric emptying, and altered colonic motility in controlled human studies.Safety Consideration
Human infusion studies show intact Neurotensin is rapidly metabolized, with substantial breakdown to the NT(1-8) fragment within minutes.Safety Consideration
Available human evidence is limited to small, short-duration peripheral-physiology infusion studies; no cognitive or neuropsychiatric therapeutic safety data exists.
Research Areas Being Studied
Research areas discussed on this page reflect the Cognitive / Neuro category and the sources cited below.
Findings Reported in Studies
Educational summary only — reported in cited studies, not a claim of proven benefit.
- Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of neurotensin in man (1989):
- Effect of neurotensin and neurotensin fragments on gastric acid secretion in man (1986):
- Neurotensin increases colonic motility (1986):
- The metabolism of intravenously infused neurotensin in man and its chromatographic characterization in human plasma (1984):
- Effect of neurotensin on gastric function in man (1980):
- Neurotensin infusion in man: pharmacokinetics and effect on gastrointestinal and pituitary hormones (1980):
Study Tables by Evidence Type
Human Studies & Clinical Data
| Title | Year | Population / Model | Dose / Duration / Finding | Safety Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of neurotensin in man | 1989 | Native NT(1-13) IV infusion in 6 normal subjects, with additional metabolite/comparator investigations | Intact NT showed rapid clearance and peripheral extraction; the study distinguished intact NT from N-terminal metabolites. | ||
| Effect of neurotensin and neurotensin fragments on gastric acid secretion in man | 1986 | Healthy subjects; native NT compared with NT(1-8), NT(8-13), and analogue | Directly separates intact neurotensin effects from fragment/analogue arms in humans. | ||
| Neurotensin increases colonic motility | 1986 | 6 healthy volunteers plus 7 patients; IV neurotensin | Neurotensin increased contraction duration in selected colonic regions. | ||
| The metabolism of intravenously infused neurotensin in man and its chromatographic characterization in human plasma | 1984 | 6 normal subjects; IV native NT and NT(1-8) comparison | Native neurotensin was rapidly degraded in human plasma, with substantial formation of NT(1-8). | ||
| Effect of neurotensin on gastric function in man | 1980 | 12 healthy volunteers; intravenous neurotensin | Neurotensin inhibited gastric acid and pepsin output and delayed gastric emptying of oral glucose in the experimental setting. | ||
| Neurotensin infusion in man: pharmacokinetics and effect on gastrointestinal and pituitary hormones | 1980 | 5 healthy subjects; synthetic neurotensin infusion | Human infusion showed rapid disappearance and increased pancreatic polypeptide without significant changes in multiple other measured pituitary/gastrointestinal hormones. |
Animal / Cell / Preclinical Data
No Animal / Cell / Preclinical Data Listed Yet
This section will be updated as sources are added.
Regulatory Documents & Official Trial Registries
No Regulatory Documents & Official Trial Registries Listed Yet
This section will be updated as sources are added.
Review Articles / Secondary Sources
| Title | Year | Population / Model | Dose / Duration / Finding | Safety Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NTS - Neurotensin/neuromedin N - Homo sapiens (Human) | Homo sapiens curated identity record | Human precursor yielding Neurotensin, Neuromedin N, large Neuromedin N, and tail peptide. | No source link available |
Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice
Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice
Reported dosing patterns are included for educational context only. They are self-reported, unverified, not medical advice, and not instructions for human use. Community-submitted patterns are not yet available in this Phase 1 prototype; this section is a placeholder reserved for moderated, aggregated community data.
Lab Markers to Discuss With a Clinician
Educational topics only — not self-monitoring instructions.
FAQ
Disclaimer
Educational information only. This page summarizes published and official research and does not provide medical advice, a recommendation, or instructions for human use.
Educational use only. This content is provided for informational and research-summary purposes only. It is not medical advice, not a treatment recommendation, not a dosing guide, and not a substitute for care from a licensed medical professional. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or mitigate disease. Reported dosing patterns, when shown elsewhere on the site, must be labeled either as Study / Trial Dosing or Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice. Community reports are self-reported, unverified, and not scientific proof.
Community-reported experiences, once enabled, must be displayed only as moderated, anonymized, or aggregated data. They are anecdotal, self-reported, unverified, and should never be presented as proof of safety, efficacy, or expected results.
Content status: Published. Last updated 2026-08-24.
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