Apelin 12 (A12) is a biologically active C-terminal fragment of the 77 amino acid prepropeptide apelin, which is also the precursor of apelin 13 and apelin 36. Apelin 12 lowers blood pressure via a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism and is involved in control of feeding through stimulation of cholecystokinin (CCK) secretion. Apelin 12 can also reduce infarct size (IS) and augment contractile function recovery in the heart of rodents after regional or global ischemia.
