Stroke leads to a variety of pathophysiological conditions such as ischemic infarct, cerebral inflammation, neuronal damage, cognitive decline, and depression. Many endeavors have been tried to find the therapeutic solutions to attenuate severe neuropathogenesis after stroke. Several studies have reported that a decrease in the neuropeptide regulator ‘galanin’ is associated with neuronal loss, learning and memory dysfunctions, and depression following a stroke. The present review summarized recent evidences on the function and the therapeutic potential of galanin in post-ischemic stroke to provide a further understanding of galanin's role. Hence, we suggest that galanin needs to be considered as a therapeutic factor in the alleviation of post-stroke pathologies.
Depression ; Galanin ; Inflammation ; Learning ; Memory ; Neurons ; Neuropeptides ; Pathology ; Stroke

The nutritional and metabolic status alters the peripheral taste perception and food intake by participating in the modulation of taste information integration. The taste receptors and neuropeptides in the taste buds are the important targets of this modulation process. To explore the effects of nutritional status on the expressions of galanin and its receptors in the taste buds, we compared the mRNA levels of galanin and its specific receptor GalR2 in the taste buds among the high-fat diet induced obese rats (HF), chronically restricted diet rats (CR) and control rats. The high-fat diet, half of chow diet, and normal chow diet were given to HF, CR and control groups for 6 weeks, respectively. The body weight and some metabolic indexes, including blood glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol levels were detected. The mRNA expressions of galanin and its receptors in taste buds were determined using real-time PCR. Results showed that compared with control rats, the body weights, levels of blood glucose and triglyceride were significantly elevated in HF rats; while the mRNA expressions of galanin and GalR2 were dramatically decreased. However, galanin mRNA expression in CR rats was increased to 2.3 times of that in control group. Considering the results obtained from our previous studies, we conclude that the behavioral changes in tasting choice of HF rats may be related to the expressions of galanin and GalR2 in the taste buds. The changes of galanin and GalR2 in taste buds are involved in the peripheral mechanism of nutritional status regulating taste perception and feeding behavior in rats.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Galanin ; metabolism ; Nutritional Status ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Receptor, Galanin, Type 2 ; metabolism ; Taste Buds ; metabolism

To construct an immortalized rat astrocyte strain genetically modified by rat preprogalanin gene (IAST/GAL) and detect its galanin (GAL) expression and secretion, a cDNA fragment of rat GAL in plasmid of pBS KS(+)-GAL was inserted into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 (+) by DNA recombinant technology, then the restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing were carried out to evaluate the recombinant. The pcDNA3.1 (+)-GAL and pcDNA3.1 (+) construct were transfected into immortalized rat astrocyte strain (IAST) by lipofectamine and the population of cells which stably integrated the construct was selected with 600 microg/mL G418. Individual clones were screened and expanded into clonal cell strains. Detection of Neo gene was used to validate the success of the transfection. Immunocytochemical staining, RT-PCR and radioimmunoassay were used to detect the expression and secretion level of GAL. The recombinant had been successfully constructed by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. Detection of Neo gene showed that the pcDNA3.1 (+)-GAL and pcDNA3.1 (+) have been successfully transfected into IAST. After selection by using G418, IAST/GAL and IAST/Neo cell strains were obtained. IAST/GAL, IAST/Neo and IAST were immunostained positively for GAL, but the GAL average optical density of IAST/GAL was significantly higher than that of IAST/Neo and IAST (P< 0.01). The level of GAL mRNA expression and the supernatant concentration of GAL in cultured IAST/GAL were significantly higher than those of IAST and IAST/Neo (P<0.01), but no significant differences were found between the IAST and IAST/Neo (P>0.05). It was concluded that IAST/GAL strain was constructed successfully and it might provide a basis for the further study of pain therapy.
Astrocytes/cytology ; Astrocytes/*metabolism ; Cell Line, Transformed ; Cells, Cultured ; Galanin/*biosynthesis ; Galanin/genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo construct an N-2a cell line stably expressing PcDNA 3.1-platelet derived growth factor-galanin (GAL) and explore the effect of over-expressed GAL on proliferation and apoptosis of N-2a cell in vitro.

METHODSThe vector containing the target gene was transfected into N-2a cells by liposome, and cell clones stably over-expressing GAL was obtained via G418 screening. GAL mRNA and protein levels were determined by reverse transcriotion-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. The proliferation of N-2a cells was detected by MTT.The cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSRT-PCT and Western blot indicated that GAL genes were highly expressed in the transfected N-2a cells (i.e.GAL-N-2a). As shown by MTT, the proliferation of the N-2a cells transfected with PcDNA 3.1-PDGF-GAL was significantly slower than the control group(P<0.05). Compared with the non-transfected cells in the control group, the N-2a cells with endogenously overexpressed GAL were arrested at the G0/G1 phases, and the over-expressed GAL protein significantly induced the N-2a cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent fashion.

CONCLUSIONEukaryotic expression vector PcDNA 3.1-PDGF-GAL can encode the expression of GAL in N-2a cells. Aslo, it can inhibit cell proliferation and promote the cell apoptosis.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the morphological characteristics of trigeminal ganglion in Korean native goat (Capra hircus) by immunohistochemical methods. The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), galanin (GAL) and calretinin (CR) immunoreactivities by immunohistochemical method were observed in the neurons of trigeminal ganglion with populations of 43.75%, 26.01%, 4.98%, and 14.33%, respectively. In double immunohistochemical study, CGRP immunoreactivity was proven to be present in SP (93.93%) and GAL (100%) immunoreactive neurons. SP immunoreactivity was observed in CGRP (36.12%) and GAL (100%) immunore-active neurons. GAL immunoreactivity was colocalized with 8.14% of CGRP and 15.47% of SP immunoreactive neurons. However, CR immunoreactivity was not observed in CGRP, SP and GAL immunoreactive neurons. These findings exhibit that Korean native goat differs from other mammalian species in the distribution and localization of neurochemical substances in trigeminal ganglion, and suggest that these differences may be related with neuroanatomical characteristics.
Calbindin 2* ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Galanin ; Goats* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents* ; Substance P ; Trigeminal Ganglion*

OBJECTIVE: To study the level of circulating Alarin in obese children and its association with various metabolic parameters. METHODS: A total of 86 obese children with a body mass index (BMI) above the 95th percentile were enrolled as the obesity group, and 82 healthy children, matched for age and sex, with a BMI below the 85th percentile were enrolled as the healthy control group. According to the presence or absence of insulin resistance (IR), the obesity group was further divided into an IR group with 27 children and a non-IR group with 59 children. Related anthropometric parameters, including body height, body weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), were measured, and BMI was calculated. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), uric acid (UA), fasting insulin (FINS), and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were measured. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for glucose and insulin, Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI) were calculated. ELISA was used to measure the level of circulating Alarin. RESULTS: The obesity group had a significantly higher level of circulating Alarin than the healthy control group (P<0.01). The IR group had a significantly higher level of circulating Alarin than the non-IR group (P<0.01). Circulating Alarin was positively correlated with BMI, TG, FBG, AUC-glucose, AUC-FINS, and HOMA-IR (P<0.05) and was negatively correlated with WBISI (P<0.05). The circulating Alarin level had a linear regression relationship with BMI, FBG, and HOMA-IR, among which HOMA-IR had the greatest influence on the circulating Alarin level (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the circulating Alarin level in obese children, which may be associated with the development of obesity and IR.
Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Galanin-Like Peptide ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Obesity

Within the medial preoptic area[MPOA], several cytoarchitectonically defined cell groups are sexually dimorphic in their morphology. Specially, the sexual dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area[SDN-POA] is reported an example of a morphological sex difference in the rat hypothalamus which is influenced by gonadal steroid hormones. Thus, we detemined the distribution of Galanin-immunoreactive[Gal-I] cells and fibers within MPOA and their morphological response to gonadal steroids which is influenced by gonadectomy or prenatal restosterone treatments were observed. The Gal-I cells were appeared within the medial preoptic area. In the males, the volume and number of Gal-I nerve cell bodies were greater than that of females. But the female which treated prenatal testosterone injection had many Gal-I neurons than infact female. And the males that decreased the volume of gonadal hormone by gonadectomy were decreased the volume and number of Gal-I neurons than that of normal males. These results suggest that galaninergic cells within the medial preoptic area are influenced by gonadal steroid hormone[testosterone] in the regulation of sexually dimorphic function.
Animals ; Female ; Galanin* ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; Gonads ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Neurons ; Preoptic Area* ; Rats* ; Sex Characteristics ; Steroids ; Testosterone*

Dehydration induced an increase in plasma osmotic pressure that causes the release of the neurohypophysial hormone (Vasopresin, Oxytocin) which are synthesized in neurons of the paraventricular (PVN) and supra optic (SON) nuclei in the hypothalamus. On the other hand, PVN which plays an important role as an integration site for the neuroendocrine and autonomic nervous system neurons responded to osmotic stimulation. In this experiment, we studied that the change of several neuropeptidies (AVP: arginine vasopressin, CRF: cor-ticotrophin releasing factor, GAL: galanin, NT: neurotensin. NPY: neuropeptide Y) immunoreactivity in the PVN according to the dehydration. The body weight of the rats decreased during dehydration and various changes were detected in hypothalamic neuropeptidies immunoreactivity.Our results show that: 1. Dehydration significantly increased AVP, CRF and GAL immunoreactivity in the PVN. 2. Dehydration slowly decreased NT immunoreactivity in the PVN. 3. NPY immunoreactive cell bodys were appeared during dehydration which did not observed in PVN at normal group.
Animals ; Arginine Vasopressin ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Body Weight ; Dehydration* ; Galanin ; Hand ; Hypothalamus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neurons ; Neuropeptides* ; Neurotensin ; Osmotic Pressure ; Plasma ; Rats

Animals ; Galanin ; administration & dosage ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Peptide Fragments ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics or the potassium channels existing in the rat urinary bladders. Smooth muscle strips of rat detrusor urinae were examined by isometric myography. Relaxation responses of detrusor muscle strips to the three potassium channel openers pinacidil, a cyanoguanidine derivative, BRL 38227, a benzopyran derivative and RP 52891, a tertrahydrothiopyran derivative were examined. The potassium channel openers reduced the basal tone, and the rank order of potency was RP 52891>pincidil>BRL 38227. Procaine, an inhibitor of the voltage-sensitive potassium channel tended to increase the basal tone, but it did not affect the relaxant effects of the calcium-activated potassium channel opener did not antagonize the relaxant effects, but it reduced the Emax of RP 52891 and BRL 38227. Glibenclamide, an inhibitor of the ATP-sensitive potassium channel, antagonized the relaxant effects of pinacidil, RP 52891 and BRL 38227 reducing the Emax of RP 52891 and BRl 38227. Galanin which inhibits secretion of insulin through opening the ATP-sensitive potassium channels in pancreatic β-cells rather increased the basal tone of the isolated detrusor strips. These results suggest that the urinary bladder of the rat has mainly the ATP-sensitive, glibenclamide sensitive potassium channel, which is a different type from that in the pancreatic β-islet cells.
Animals ; Cromakalim ; Galanin ; Glyburide ; Insulin ; KATP Channels ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myography ; Pinacidil ; Potassium Channels* ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; Potassium* ; Procaine ; Rats* ; Relaxation ; Urinary Bladder