Hormone that acts as a regulator of dendritic growth in the developing cerebral cortex in response to sensory experience (PubMed:27830782). Induced in the brain following membrane depolarization and inhibits dendritic branching in neurons of the developing cortex (PubMed:27830782). Probably acts by binding to natriuretic peptide receptor NPR3/NPR-C, thereby preventing binding between NPR3/NPR-C and natriuretic peptides, leading to increase cGMP production (By similarity). Interacts with NPR3. Enriched in neocortical regions of the developing cerebral cortex (PubMed:27830782). Not expressed in other compartments of the neocortical wall or in brain regions such as the hippocampus, striatum, mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus and cerebellum (PubMed:27830782). Also expressed in bone (PubMed:14523025). In developing neonatal rib bone, present at high level in osteoblasts on bone-forming surfaces, in newly incorporated osteocytes and in some late hypertrophic chondrocytes (at protein level) (PubMed:15923362). In adult bone, localizes specifically to osteoblasts and young osteocytes at bone-forming sites (at protein level) (PubMed:15923362). Expression in the developing cerebral cortex increases during the course of fetal development and peaks around the late-mid fetal stage, concurrent with the onset of synaptogenesis in the cortical plate (PubMed:27830782). Expression is induced in the developing cerebral cortex in response to neuronal activity in neurons: expression is driven by the presence of a enhancer sequence only present in primates that binds the MEF2 transcription factors (PubMed:27830782). Belongs to the Osteocrin family. This protein-coding gene has been repurposed in primates, with the presence of a new enhancer sequence that drives expression in brain in response to sensory experience, leading to restrict dendritic growth in the developing cortex (PubMed:27830782). Something else - Issue 189 of March 2017