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Regional stimulatory and inhibitory effects of guanine nucleotides on [125I]galanin binding in rat brain: relationship with the rate of occupancy of galanin receptors by endogenous galanin.

Galanin has been shown to stimulate feeding or modulate neuroendocrine secretions when administered centrally. In the present work, using quantitative autoradiography, we documented the existence of [125I]galanin specific binding sites in several hypothalamic nuclei expected to mediate these effects. In standard binding conditions, [125I]galanin specific binding can be visualized in the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus, stria terminalis, piriform cortex, central amygdaloid nucleus and medial amygdaloid nucleus, while it is almost undetectable in most neuroendocrine or autonomic hypothalamic areas. We hypothesized that high endogenous galanin levels in these regions might mask galanin receptors. We first showed that a high ionic strength/acid wash of brain slices is effective in removing more than 80% of specifically prebound [125I]galanin in all tested regions. After such treatments, specific binding sites could be revealed in the hypothalamus namely in the parvocellular paraventricular nucleus, periventricular nucleus, arcuate nucleus and median eminence. In contrast, regions already labeled in standard conditions exhibited a slight decrease in [125I]galanin binding. Thus, regions were ranked from low to high rate of occupancy of galanin receptors by endogenous galanin, the rate of occupancy of galanin receptors being maximal in median eminence (greater than 90%). We thus studied the regional effect of guanine nucleotides on [125I]galanin specific binding. A high concentration (100 microM) of guanyl 5'-yl imidodiphosphate, a nonhydrolyzable analog of GTP directly added to the incubation medium, inhibited [125I]galanin binding in all telencephalic regions. On the same sections and only in regions of high index of galanin receptor occupancy (arcuate nucleus, median eminence, dorsomedial nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, and periventricular hypothalamic nucleus), guanyl 5'-yl imidodiphosphate paradoxically enhanced [125I]galanin binding. The effects of acid preincubation and guanyl 5'-yl imidodiphosphate incubation on [125I]galanin binding were strongly correlated in these hypothalamic areas (r = 0.97). In all regions, guanyl 5'-yl imidodiphosphate increased the rate of dissociation of [125I]galanin. In competition studies, guanyl 5'-yl imidodiphosphate decreased the IC50 s of unlabeled galanin which were homogenized around 4 nM in most telencephalic and hypothalamic regions. Thus, the guanyl 5'-yl imidodiphosphate-induced stimulation of [125I]galanin specific binding measured in the neuroendocrine and autonomic hypothalamus is linked to an increase in receptor capacity and not to a rise in receptor affinity. Both inhibitory and stimulatory guanyl 5'-yl imidodiphosphate effects observed in [125I]galanin equilibrium binding studies were dose-dependent and guanine nucleotide-specific with guanyl 5'-yl imidodiphosphate more potent than GTP or GDP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals

Galanin-induced inhibition of insulin secretion from rat islets: effects of rat and pig galanin and galanin fragments and analogues.

The 29-amino acid neuropeptide galanin occurs in intrapancreatic nerves and inhibits insulin secretion. To study the structure-activity relations of galanin, we examined the effects of pig and rat galanin, three galanin fragments (galanin-(1-11), galanin-(1-16) and rat galanin-(17-29) and four galanin analogues ([Ala2]pig galanin, [Ala2]rat galanin, [D-Trp2]rat galanin and [D-Trp2]galanin-(1-16] on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from isolated rat islets. Pig and rat galanin and galanin-(1-11) equipotently inhibited glucose-stimulated (8.3 mM) insulin secretion at and above 10(-7) M (P less than 0.05), whereas galanin-(1-16), inhibited insulin secretion at 10(-6) M (P less than 0.01). In contrast, the C-terminal rat galanin-(17-29) and the galanin analogues did not influence insulin secretion. Thus, rat and pig galanin are equipotent in inhibiting glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from rat islets. The active site resides in the N-terminal part of the molecule. Furthermore, the binding of galanin to its receptor depends on structural characteristics governed by the N-terminal position and in particular by the Trp2 residue.

Amino Acid Sequence

Galanin hyperinnervates surviving neurons of the human basal nucleus of Meynert in dementias of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease: a hypothesis for the role of galanin in accentuating cholinergic dysfunction in dementia.

This study summarizes the findings from postmortem examination of the brains of 22 control cases without neurological deficit, 12 cases of senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT), and nine cases of Parkinson's disease (three without signs of intellectual deterioration, four with dementia, and two atypical with dementia nonresponsive to L-dopa treatment). The aim of this study was to find the similarities and differences in galanin innervation of the cholinergic basal nucleus neurons in these dementing disorders as compared with controls. Immunocytochemistry with antibodies against galanin peptide and against choline acetyltransferase was applied on perfused brain preparations. Galanin peptide is present in the basal nucleus of Meynert neuron networks in the normal human brain: in local circuit neurons, in a number of galanin/cholinergic neurons, and in a feedback circuit via collaterals) that terminate upon the cholinergic neuronal somata and dendrites. Thus, peptide galanin circuits could function as powerful modulators of the activities of basal nucleus cholinergic neurons, both within the basal forebrain and in their wider projections to the neocortex and amygdala. As galanin has been shown to inhibit cholinergic activity, this galanin network could suppress the activity of cholinergic neurons. In SDAT, there is a primary loss of cholinergic neurons compounded by a secondary reaction of the remaining cholinergic neurons to the terminal degeneration in the cortex. Galanin networks demonstrate an inverse relationship to the cholinergic cell loss. Galanin axons hypertrophy and hyperinnervate the remaining cholinergic neurons. In Parkinson's disease the loss of cholinergic neurons is accentuated by the presence of dementia: the hypertrophy of the galanin axonal networks on cholinergic neurons is dramatic in Parkinson's disease with dementia. These observations throw new light on the neurotransmitter bases for these dementias. Galanin controls cholinergic mechanisms in the basal nucleus of Meynert, and dementia is accompanied by augmentation of galanin innervation onto an already depressed population of cholinergic neurons, thus demonstrating an appreciable amount of plasticity even in aged brain. These findings suggest that the present therapy of cholinergic enhancement as a means to retard intellectual deterioration can by itself have little effect at best, in these dementias. The suppressive effect of galanin peptide has to be reduced or curtailed, perhaps concurrently with the treatment of the cholinergic deficit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acetylcholine

N-terminal galanin-(1-16) fragment is an agonist at the hippocampal galanin receptor.

The galanin N-terminal fragment [galanin-(1-16)] has been prepared by solid-phase synthesis and by enzymic cleavage of galanin by endoproteinase Asp-N. This peptide fragment displaced 125I-labeled galanin in receptor autoradiography experiments on rat forebrain and spinal cord and in equilibrium binding experiments from high-affinity binding sites in the ventral hippocampus with an IC50 of approximately 3 nM. In tissue slices of the same brain area, galanin-(1-16), similarly to galanin, inhibited the muscarinic agonist-stimulated breakdown of inositol phospholipids. Upon intracerebroventricular administration, galanin-(1-16) (10 micrograms/15 microliters) also inhibited the scopolamine (0.3 mg/kg, s.c.)-evoked release of acetylcholine, as studied in vivo by microdialysis. Substitution of [L-Trp2] for [D-Trp2] resulted in a 500-fold loss in affinity as compared with galanin-(1-16). It is concluded that, in the ventral hippocampus, the N-terminal galanin fragment [galanin-(1-16)] is recognized by the galanin receptors controlling acetylcholine release and muscarinic agonist-stimulated inositol phospholipid breakdown as a high-affinity agonist and that amino acid residue [Trp2] plays an important role in the receptor-ligand interactions.

Animals

Activity of centrally administered galanin fragments on stimulation of feeding behavior and on galanin receptor binding in the rat hypothalamus.

Synthetic fragments of galanin 1-29 were administered intraventricularly or into the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus for analysis of the critical amino acid sequence necessary to stimulate feeding behavior in rats. Galanin 1-29 and galanin fragment 1-16 significantly increased feeding at doses of 6 nmol microinjected into the lateral ventricles and 1 nmol microinjected into the hypothalamus. There was no significant effect of D-TRP2 galanin 1-16 microinjected into the hypothalamus, and no significant effect of galanin fragments 1-9, 10-20, 12-29, 17-29, or 21-29 microinjected intraventricularly, on food consumption. Synthetic fragments of galanin 1-29 were assayed for displacement of 125I-galanin 1-29 binding to rat hypothalamic membranes. The efficacies of the galanin fragments in the feeding paradigm were consistent with the relative affinities of these fragments for the hypothalamic galanin receptor in equilibrium binding experiments. The first 16 N-terminal amino acids appear to contain galanin agonist activity on increasing food consumption and to bind to the galanin receptor in the rat hypothalamus.

Animals

Hypothalamic degradation of galanin(1-29) and galanin(1-16): identification and characterization of the peptidolytic products.

The degradation of the neuropeptide galanin(1-29) and its fully active synthetic N-terminal fragment galanin(1-16) in hypothalamic tissue, where these peptides potently affect feeding behaviour, is studied. Galanin(1-29) had a half-life of 100 min while galanin(1-16) had a half-life of 28 min when incubated with a hypothalamic membrane preparation. The putative sites of peptidolytic cleavage of the active N-terminal fragment galanin(1-16) were determined as being between amino acids Leu4 and Asn5, between Asn5 and Ser6, and between His14 and Ala15, respectively. The synthetic analogs of galanin(1-16) where Leu4, Asn5 or Ser6 was substituted by Ala were all more stable to peptidolysis; [Ala4]galanin(1-16) had a half-life of 55 min. Cleavage of the galanin(1-16) between His14-Ala15 yields a ligand-galanin(1-14) which binds to the receptor with high affinity (KD approximately 10(7) M), while cleavage at amino acid residues Leu4, Asn5 and Ser6 results in inactive peptide fragments with affinities for the galanin receptor below 10(-4) M. The enzyme(s) responsible for degradation of galanin were identified as endopeptidase(s), which were partially inhibited by bacitracin (1 mg/ml) by up to 50%, but not significantly by EDTA (1 mM), phosphoramidon (1 microM), phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, (100 microM) or aprotinin (10 micrograms/ml).

Amino Acid Sequence

On the nature of the galanin action on the endocrine pancreas: studies with six galanin fragments in the perfused dog pancreas.

Galanin, a 29 amino acid peptide, inhibits insulin and somatostatin secretion from the isolated, perfused dog pancreas. To assess the nature of the influences of galanin on the endocrine pancreas, we examined the effects of porcine galanin and six different galanin analogues at the equimolar concentration of 1 nmol/l on the hormone release from the isolated, perfused dog pancreas. It was found that galanin2-29 (by 75 +/- 4%), like the native galanin1-29 (by 90 +/- 3%) potently inhibited insulin secretion (p less than 0.001). In contrast, galanin3-29 did not significantly affect insulin secretion. This indicates that removal of the two N-terminal amino acids markedly reduces the potency of galanin. Also, the replacement of the amino acid number 2 (Trp) by Tyr or Phe was followed by a loss of the insulin lowering effect of galanin at this dose level. Likewise, galanin10-29 had no significant effect on insulin secretion. In contrast, the C-terminally deleted galanin1-15 significantly inhibited insulin secretion (by 24 +/- 5%; p less than 0.01), though with a lower potency than did native galanin (p less than 0.05). Consequently, the C-terminal end of galanin is also of importance for the effect. Somatostatin secretion was inhibited by galanin (p less than 0.001), but not by any of the other investigated peptides. Glucagon secretion was not affected by galanin. It is concluded that the two N-terminal amino acids of galanin are essential for the inhibitory action on the insulin secretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence

Distribution of galanin immunoreactivity in the central nervous system and the responses of galanin-containing neuronal pathways to injury.

Radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemistry were used to study the distribution of galanin, a novel 29 amino acid porcine intestinal peptide, in the central nervous system of the rat and pig. The pattern of distribution was similar in the two species, with the highest concentrations of galanin-like immunoreactivity found in the neurohypophysis, hypothalamus and sacral spinal cord. Immunocytochemical studies of these regions localized galanin-like immunoreactivity to cell bodies in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus, to fibres in the pars nervosa and to numerous cell bodies and fibres in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. On both gel and high pressure liquid chromatography, galanin-like immunoreactivity in rat and pig nervous tissue eluted as a single peak in a position similar to purified procine intestinal galanin standard. Surgical and pharmacological manipulations in the rat suggest the presence of galanin in afferent fibres. An increase of galanin-like immunoreactivity was observed in the sacral spinal cord of the rat following thoracic spinal cord transection. Thus galanin-like immunoreactivity in the brain is mainly localized in the hypothalamopituitary region. The decrease of galanin-like immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, following dorsal rhizotomy and pre-treatment of rats with capsaicin, indicates that many of the fibres, which are of small diameter, may well be derived from spinal sensory neurones.

Animals

Galanin and galanin antagonists: molecular and biochemical perspectives.

The neuropeptide galanin potently inhibits insulin release, hippocampal acetylcholine release and firing of locus coeruleus cells, and stimulates feeding and release of growth hormone. Galanin regulates K+ channels, adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase C by acting at Gi/Go protein-coupled high-affinity receptors. Galanin receptor agonists such as the N-terminal fragment galanin1-16 act synergistically with morphine in the somatosensory system and have potential analgetic application. Galanin antagonists may be useful therapeutic agents in endocrinology, neurology and psychiatry. The enhancing effect of such agents on hippocampal cholinergic function would be useful in treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Recent synthesis of a series of high-affinity galanin antagonists, reviewed, along with galanin's actions, by Tamas Bartfai and colleagues, opens the possibility of examining the functions of endogenous galanin and test the pharmacological usefulness of antagonism of galanin function in the endocrine, somatosensory and central nervous systems.

Acetylcholine

Galanin receptors in the post-mortem human brain. Regional distribution of 125I-galanin binding sites using the method of in vitro receptor autoradiography.

The distribution of putative receptors for the peptide galanin was studied in the normal post-mortem human brain by using 125I-galanin (0.5 nM) in combination with in vitro receptor autoradiography. Specific binding of 125I-galanin was found in a large number of brain areas throughout the neuraxis. Highest binding densities occurred in the basal forebrain and hypothalamus, while the basal ganglia, major parts of the thalamus and the tectum were found to be poor in binding sites. All cortical areas harboured 125I-galanin binding, and in the visual cortex a laminated pattern was present. In the hippocampus, 125I-galanin binding occurred in layer 2 of the entorhinal cortex, in the uncus and in the hippocampal-amygdala area. In the brain-stem, 125I-galanin binding was found in serotoninergic noradrenergic cell groups as well as in the reticular formation and in the parabrachial nuclei. Galanin receptors may, thus, mediate the response of galanin in numerous structures in the human brain.

Aged

Linear and cyclic N-terminal galanin fragments and analogs as ligands at the hypothalamic galanin receptor.

The neuropeptide galanin (1-29) binds with high affinity to hypothalamic receptors (KD approximately 0.9 nM) and regulates feeding behavior. The N-terminal fragments (1-16), (1-16)NH2 are high affinity (KD approximately 6 nM) full agonists in vivo and in vitro. L-Ala substitutions show that amino acid residues Gly1, Trp2, Asn5, Tyr9, and Gly12 are important for the high affinity binding of galanin (1-16). Shortening the fragment (1-16) to galanin (1-7) causes a gradual drop of affinity: galanin (1-15), (1-14), and (1-13) have submicromolar KD values and galanin (1-12) has KD approximately 3 microM. Cyclic analogs of galanin (1-12) of different ring size were synthesized by condensing Gly1 and Gly12 without or with spacer groups. These analogs, independent of ring size, had a lower affinity than the linear galanin (1-12). Derivatization of the N-terminus of galanin (1-29), (1-16), and (1-12) all resulted in a large drop of affinity for the receptors, suggesting again the importance of the free N-terminal Gly.

Alanine

Nucleotide sequence analysis of cDNAs encoding a bovine galanin precursor protein in the adrenal medulla and chemical isolation of bovine gut galanin.

A description is given of the primary structure of a bovine adrenal medullary precursor protein (123 amino acids), containing a nonrepetitive galanin sequence, different in four amino acid positions from pig galanin, structural information deduced from the nucleotide sequence analysis of two cDNA clones. Pairs of lysine and arginine residues separate the galanin sequence N-terminally from the initiating methionine and a 29 amino acid leader peptide and C-terminally from a 59 amino acid peptide. The deduced amino acid composition was confirmed by the isolation and determination of the amino acid composition for bovine intestinal galanin. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of an apparent single galanin mRNA species, of approx. 850-900 bases in size, which was present in a population of chromaffin cells scattered throughout the bovine adrenal medulla.

Adrenal Medulla

Galanin message-associated peptide (GMAP)- and galanin-like immunoreactivities: overlapping and differential distributions in the rat.

Using the indirect immunofluorescence method the distribution of galanin message associated peptide (GMAP)- and galanin-like immunoreactivities (LI) was compared in brain, intestine and some endocrine tissues of rat. In general, neurons in the peripheral and central nervous system contained both immunoreactivities. However, in retina the cones were GMAP-positive but galanin-negative. A strong GMAP-LI was observed in the prolactin cells in the anterior lobe of the pituitary and in the insulin cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, whereas incubation with galanin antiserum resulted in staining of fewer cells (anterior pituitary) or a very weak fluorescence (pancreas). The results show that most neurons express both GMAP- and galanin-LI, but raise the possibility that in some systems there is a tissue specific, posttranslational differential processing of preprogalanin.

Amino Acid Sequence

Galanin and galanin extended at the N-terminus with seven and nine amino acids are produced in and secreted from the porcine adrenal medulla in almost equal amounts.

Galanin is present in high concentrations in porcine adrenals, but nothing is known about the processing and secretion of other products of the 123-amino acid precursor preprogalanin. Using, in combination, RIA against galanin, a variety of chromatographic procedures, mass spectrometry, and amino acid sequencing, we studied the processed and the secreted products of preprogalanin. From the tissue extracts we isolated in equimolar amounts and sequenced two major pools of galanin immunoreactive peptides: galanin and two N-terminally extended forms, preprogalanin-(24-61) and preprogalanin-(26-61). The same peptides were identified upon gel chromatography and analytical HPLC in effluents collected during electrical stimulation of the intact splanchnic nerve supply of an isolated perfused preparation of porcine adrenals. The processing of preprogalanin in porcine adrenals thus includes the formation and release of galanin, preprogalanin-(24-61), and preprogalanin-(26-61). The signal peptidase cleaves the preprogalanin at either Gly23 or Gly25.

Adrenal Medulla

Co-existence of galanin and acetylcholine: is galanin involved in memory processes and dementia?

Galanin-like immunoreactivity co-exists with choline acetyltransferase-like immunoreactivity in neurons of the septal-hippocampal and nucleus basalis of Meynert-neocortical pathways. These structures mediate some forms of cognition, and characteristically degenerate in Alzheimer's disease. Biochemical, neurophysiological and behavioral studies indicate that galanin acts as an inhibitory modulator of cholinergic function. In this article, we consider the possibility of a role for galanin in memory processes and dementia.

Acetylcholine

Galanin coexists with vasopressin in the normal rat hypothalamus and galanin's synthesis is increased in the Brattleboro (diabetes insipidus) rat.

Galanin is a peptide containing 29 amino acid residues, that is present in the median eminence, in the magnocellular neurons of the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of the rat hypothalamus and in the posterior pituitary. We report here that: (1) immunoreactivity for galanin (GAL) and vasopressin coexist in the SON of normal rats, (2) levels of mRNA encoding preprogalanin are markedly elevated in the PVN and SON of Brattleboro (diabetes insipidus) rats, as determined by in situ hybridization histochemistry but (3) levels of GAL-like immunoreactivity (GAL-LI) are significantly reduced in the posterior pituitary of these rats, as determined by radioimmunoassay. We suggest that production and possibly secretion of the peptide GAL may be increased in the Brattleboro rat.

Animals

Distribution of 125I-galanin binding sites, immunoreactive galanin, and its coexistence with 5-hydroxytryptamine in the cat spinal cord: biochemical, histochemical, and experimental studies at the light and electron microscopic level.

The distribution of galanin-like immunoreactivity (GAL-LI) in the spinal cord of the cat was studied by use of indirect histochemistry and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique. In the ventral horn GAL-immunoreactive (IR) axonal fibers and terminals were most frequent in the ventral part of the motor nucleus. The GAL-IR axons also contained 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-LI, and they disappeared after spinal cord transection. It was concluded that these GAL-IR fibers belong to the serotoninergic bublospinal pathway. In the medulla oblongata from normal cats, scattered GAL-IR cell bodies were encountered within the nucleus raphe obscurus and nucleus raphe pallidus. Electron microscopic observations revealed that the fine structure of the GAL-IR axonal boutons in the motor nucleus was similar to that of 5-HT-IR boutons with a varying number of immunoreactive large dense core vesicles. The postsynaptic element in all cases studied was a dendrite. A dense GAL-IR axonal plexus was found in the superficial laminae I-II of the dorsal horn. Coexistence was found between the GAL- and substance P-LI in fibers within the dorsal horn plexus. Spinal cord transection did not alter the pattern of GAL-LI in the dorsal horn, while the vast majority of GAL-IR axonal swellings disappeared following dorsal root sectioning. Electron microscopic observations in lamina II (substantia gelatinosa) revealed that the GAL-IR axonal terminals could be divided into two main groups. One with small to medium-sized axonal boutons formed synaptic contacts with both dendritic and axonal profiles. The other formed the central axon terminals of glomeruli, suggesting that GAL-LI may be present in C-type primary afferents. Numerous small GAL-IR cell bodies were encountered in laminae II and III. GAL-IR cell bodies were also observed in lamina X. The dorsal root ganglia contained a low but consistent number of small to medium-sized GAL-IR cell bodies, which all contained immunoreactive calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Following peripheral sciatic nerve transection, the number and the labeling intensity of GAL-IR cell bodies in the corresponding dorsal root ganglia showed a moderate increase. Radioimmunoassay revealed that the concentration of GAL-LI increased along the rostrocaudal axis of the normal spinal cord, and was about three times higher in the dorsal than in the ventral regions. The concentration in the dorsal root ganglia was intermediate to those seen in the corresponding dorsal and ventral cord regions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals

Impact of a galanin antagonist on exogenous galanin and natural patterns of fat ingestion.

The peptide galanin (GAL) has a potent stimulatory effect on fat ingestion after administration into the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). This study examined a newly synthesized GAL antagonist, M40, in two separate experiments involving: (1) PVN injections of M40 alone in freely feeding animals, to investigate the importance of endogenous GAL receptor activity in determining natural patterns of fat ingestion, and (2) PVN injections of M40 in combination with exogenous GAL, to determine whether endogenous GAL receptors mediate this peptide-induced response. The results demonstrate that PVN injection of M40 by itself dose-dependently (2-108 pmol) reduces spontaneous ingestion of the fat diet. This phenomenon is robust, behaviorally specific and opposite to that induced by GAL itself. Moreover, the stimulatory effect of PVN-injected GAL on fat ingestion can be blocked by prior PVN administration of M40 at relatively low doses (2-6 pmol), indicating that M40 is a potent antagonist of GAL receptors in the hypothalamus. Together, these results provide the first evidence for the existence of endogenous GAL receptors in mediating the action of exogenous GAL in the hypothalamus. They also constitute a crucial step in demonstrating a physiological function of these PVN GAL receptors in controlling natural patterns of fat ingestion.

Animals