[Structure-function studies of galanin].

ABSTRACT

Galanin is widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous system and exerts a variety of physiological effects. This review briefly describes the chemical structure, tissue distribution, physiological effects, receptors and structure-function relationships of galanin. It is worth noting that the inhibitory effect of newly synthesized galanin (1-15)-ol on guinea pig ileum contractions was of the same magnitude as that of galanin. This observation gives us an important clue as to the discovery of antagonists of galanin for neural systems.