Abstract: There are provided PACAP which is a substance capable of inhibiting the hyperplasia of pancreatic cells and/or the hypersecretion of insulin by pancreatic cells, a method for inhibiting the hyperplasia of pancreatic cells and/or the hypersecretion of insulin by pancreatic cells in a human by PACAP administration, a pharmaceutical composition containing PACAP and, optionally, an anti-diabetic agent, and a method for evaluating a substance capable of inhibiting the hyperplasia of pancreatic cells and/or the hypersecretion of insulin by pancreatic cells relying on the expression of Reg III? to be stimulated by PACAP as an index.

Abstract: There are provided PACAP which is a substance capable of inhibiting the hyperplasia of pancreatic cells and/or the hypersecretion of insulin by pancreatic cells, a method for inhibiting the hyperplasia of pancreatic cells and/or the hypersecretion of insulin by pancreatic cells in a human by PACAP administration, a pharmaceutical composition containing PACAP and, optionally, an anti-diabetic agent, and a method for evaluating a substance capable of inhibiting the hyperplasia of pancreatic cells and/or the hypersecretion of insulin by pancreatic cells relying on the expression of Reg III? to be stimulated by PACAP as an index.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an a neurotrophic factor production accelerator comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound represented by the formula (I) below: wherein R1 is lower alkyl, aryl, ar(lower)alkoxy, or a heterocyclic group, and the above groups may be substituted with halogen, R2 is a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl, R3 is cyclo(lower)alkyl, aryl or ar(lower)alkyl, and the above groups may be substituted with halogen, A is —CO—, —SO2— or lower alkylene, X is N or CH, Y is —CO—, —SO2— or —CONH—, a salt, a prodrug or a solvate thereof. According to the present invention, a neurotrophic factor production accelerator, which is useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of a motor nervous system or peripheral nervous system disease, can be provided.

Abstract: A mammalian model animal for psychiatric disorders having a chromosome of a somatic cell and a germ cell with deficiency of function of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide gene.

Abstract: As a means to elucidate involvement of the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (hereinafter designated as PACAP) in the impairment and the degeneration of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system and the pathophysiology of diversified diseases, a knockout animal, in which the function of PACAP gene of the animal is defective in somatic cells and germ cells is prepared.

Abstract: Optically active alkylenedioxybenzene derivatives of the formula: ##STR1## wherein m is an integer of 2-5, and n is an integer of 1-3, and acid addition salts thereof. A pharmaceutical composition containing a compound (I) or racemate, and a method of treating anxiety in a warm-blooded animal by administering the above compound (I) to said animal are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are anxiolytic drugs containing as an active ingredient a piperazine derivative represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein m represents an integer from 2 to 4,X represents ##STR2## Ar represents a pyridyl group, a pyrimidinyl group, or a phenyl group which may be substituted with halogen atom, trifluoromethyl group, alkoxy group or alkyl group, andR.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 which may be identical or different represent lower alkoxy groups, or R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom and R.sub.1 when taken together with R.sub.2 forms ##STR3## (n=1, 2 or 3); and its acid addition salt.The anxiolytic drugs disclosed herein have the high binding capacities to 5-HT.sub.1A receptor which is one of the receptors for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), thereby exerting anxiolytic effects.

Abstract: Optically active alkylenedioxybenzene derivatives of the formula: ##STR1## wherein m is an integer of 2-5, and n is an integer of 1-3, and acid addition salts thereof. A pharmaceutical composition containing a compound (I) or racemate, and a method of treating anxiety in a warm-blooded animal by administering the above compound (I) to said animal are also provided.