VPAC2 receptor is expressed in the uterus, prostate, smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract, seminal vesicles and skin, blood vessels and thymus. VPAC2 is also expressed in various brain regions including the thalamus and the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN).nVPAC2 plays important roles in the control of mammalian circadian rhythms in the SCN. Mice lacking VPAC2 show altered circadian rhythms in locomotor behavior, neuronal firing and clock gene expression4. Recent studies have also shown that duplication of the VPAC2 gene, and the resulting higher than normal VPAC2 signaling in patients confers a significant risk to schizophrenia
