Neuroscience 2000;95(1):265-71
Distribution of galanin-1, -2 and -3 receptor messenger RNAs in central and
peripheral rat tissues.
Waters SM, Krause JE
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Neurogen Corporation, Branford, CT 06405, USA.
[Medline record in process]
Galanin is a neuropeptide widely expressed in the central nervous system and periphery. In rat, three galanin-binding receptors
have been cloned and characterized. We report the qualitative and quantitative distribution of galanin-1, galanin-2, and
galanin-3 messenger RNAs in central and peripheral rat tissues by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and solution
hybridization/RNase protection assays, respectively. Galanin-1 messenger RNA was detected exclusively in the central and
peripheral nervous system with highest expression in hypothalamus, amygdala, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia. Galanin-2
messenger RNA was highly expressed in hypothalamus, dorsal root ganglia, and kidney with moderate expression in several
other tissues. Galanin-3 messenger RNA was widely distributed at low to moderate levels in many central and peripheral
tissues. The observed expression of multiple galanin receptors in several tissues including hypothalamus, anterior pituitary and
spinal cord supports earlier pharmacological studies suggesting the presence of more than one receptor subtype in these
regions. The presence of multiple galanin receptors in these tissues in conjunction with the detection of a single subtype,
galanin-2, in tissues such as heart and intestine, illustrates the potential complexity of galanin-associated actions in rat central
nervous system and periphery. |
