Galanin is a regulatory 30- or 29-amino acid peptide, widely distributed in the nervous system and gut, that acts via three subtypes of G protein-coupled receptors, named GAL-R1, GAL-R2 and GAL-R3. Findings have been accumulated that galanin regulates neuroendocrine hypothalamic axes, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) one. Galanin and its receptors are expressed in the hypothal...

The neuropeptide galanin is expressed in sympathetic nerve terminals that surround islet cells and inhibits insulin secretion. To explore its role for islet function, we studied mice with a loss-of-function mutation in the galanin gene [galanin knockout (KO) mice]. Intravenous 2-deoxy-glucose, which activates both the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system, cau...

Galanin is a neuropeptide with a wide range of effects in the nervous and endocrine systems, mediated through three G protein-coupled receptor subtypes (GalR1-3). Interestingly, galanin and its receptors are also expressed in certain tumors. Here we studied the effects of galanin in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells stably transfected with GFP-tagged GalR2. Galanin at 100 nM inhibited cell prol...

The neuropeptide galanin was originally implicated in the regulation of feeding behaviour. Today, galanin is implicated in several physiological functions including reproduction and feeding. Many hypothalamic neurohormones of the hypothalamo--pituitary axis (HPA) are also expressed in the placenta where the specialized topological compartments of the HPA are missing and where paracrine and auto...

Previous studies showed that galanin receptors are expressed in the rat adrenal, and galanin modulates glucocorticoid secretion in this species. Hence, we investigated the expression of the various galanin receptor subtypes (GAL-R1, GAL-R2 and GAL-R3) in the human adrenocortical cells, and the possible involvement of galanin in the control of cortisol secretion. Reverse transcription-polymerase...

The galanin neuropeptide system is widely distributed throughout the brain and periphery and is thought to play a role in feeding, pain and reproduction. To evaluate the human galanin receptor 1 as a potential therapeutic target, we fully characterized its interaction with several galanin-like peptides. The human galanin receptor 1 receptor was stably expressed using an episomal system in human...

Previous investigations have shown that rat adrenocortical cells are provided with galanin receptors, and galanin stimulates glucocorticoid secretion from dispersed cells. The present study aimed to clarify the possible role of galanin in the physiological regulation of rat adrenal secretory activity. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction detected galanin mRNA expression in the adrena...

There is currently some debate over a possible role of galanin in pain processing. It was recently reported that the levels of galanin in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) seem related to development of allodynia after unilateral sciatic nerve constriction injury. In our present study, we aimed at characterizing the effect of exogenous and endogenous galanin on pain behavior in allodynic and non-allod...

This study examined the inhibitory mechanism of galanin, a 29 amino acid polypeptide on pancreatic enzyme secretion in anaesthetised rats, isolated pancreatic acini, and lobules. Urethane anaesthetised rats with pancreatic fistulas pretreated with 3-0-methyl-glucopyranose (500 mg/kg/h) were stimulated with an intravenous bolus of 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) (75 mg/kg). Maximal amylase secretion was m...