Localization of LGR7 (relaxin receptor) mRNA and protein in rat forebrain: correlation with relaxin binding site distribution.

Discrete neuronal populations in brain express relaxin and relaxin-3, and molecular studies have identified former-orphan, G-protein-coupled receptors LGR7 and GPCR135 as their native receptors. To better understand the role of central relaxin systems, we began to assess the anatomic distribution of these receptors and ligands in brain. This study documents the widespread distribution of LGR7 mRNA and LGR7-like immunoreactivity (LI) throughout adult rat forebrain areas shown to contain specific [33P]-relaxin binding sites.