Description
GAL is expressed in the brain and peripheral organs, and
has diverse physiological actions, including energy homeostasis, reproduction, nociception, and cognition. GAL was isolated in 1983 from the porcine intestine by
Tatemoto and colleagues. The GAL peptide has been
purified from the chicken, alligator, and fish species,
including trout, tuna, bowfin, dogfish, and sturgeon.
Clinical Use
Since its discovery in 1983, the neuropeptide galanin has been found to be involved in a wide range of
functions, including pain sensation, sexual activity, feeding, and learning and memory. Galanin is widely
distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems and in the endocrine system, and it acts as a
inhibitory neuromodulator of NE and 5-HT in the brain. The 29- to 30-amino-acid sequence of galanin is
conserved (almost 90% among species), indicating the importance of the molecule among species.