Expression of GalR1 and GalR2 galanin receptor messenger ribonucleic acid in proopiomelanocortin neurons of the rat arcuate nucleus: effect of testosterone.

Previous studies have shown that galanin-containing fibers make synaptic contacts with POMC neurons in the arcuate nucleus. However, the ability of POMC neurons to express galanin receptors has never been assessed. The present study was designed to investigate whether POMC neurons express galanin receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) and whether testosterone could modulate galanin receptor gene expression.

Semiquantitative distribution of galanin-receptor (GAL-R1) mRNA-containing cells in the male rat hypothalamus.

The semiquantitative distribution of mRNA encoding for rat galanin receptor (GAL-R1) was examined by in situ hybridization in the rat hypothalamus using a 35S-riboprobe. Most hypothalamic nuclei expressed GAL-R1 mRNA. In the anterior hypothalamus, high levels of expression were found in the medial preoptic area, paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei.

Molecular determinants of the species selectivity of neurokinin type 1 receptor antagonists.

Most nonpeptide neurokinin (NK)1 antagonists display a marked difference in affinity for rat versus human NK1 receptors. The molecular basis for the species selectivity of RP67580 and CP96,345 has been previously addressed [J. Biol.

Cloning, pharmacological characterization, and anatomical distribution of a rat cDNA encoding for a galanin receptor.

We have cloned and expressed a rat cDNA, designated GALR1-rat, that encodes a galanin receptor based on homology, pharmacology, and anatomical criteria. This cDNA was isolated from a rat brain cDNA library. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned receptor revealed an open reading frame encoding a 346-amino-acid protein, showing 90.

Molecular cloning of a functional human galanin receptor.

The ubiquitous neuropeptide galanin controls numerous functions such as endocrine secretions, intestinal motility, and behavioral activities. These regulatory effects of galanin are mediated through the interaction with specific membrane receptors and involve the pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide binding proteins Gi/Go as transducing elements. We report here the isolation of a cDNA coding for a human galanin receptor from a Bowes melanoma cell line cDNA expression library, by using a radioligand binding strategy.