Neuroendocrinology of Galanin-Like Peptide (GALP)

大脑中称为神经肽的分子化合物通常调节生理功能，其作用与激素类似。 最近在哺乳动物中分离出了神经肽家族的一个新成员，称为甘丙肽，并将其称为甘丙肽样肽（GALP）。 初步证据表明 GALP 在垂体功能的神经内分泌调节中发挥作用，但人们对这种化合物的功能知之甚少。该项目利用神经解剖学、生理学和分子生物学技术揭示含有 GALP 的细胞的解剖回路，发现 GALP 表达的方式和位置，并开发具有 GALP 基因定向删除的突变小鼠模型以揭示生理功能。 这些研究的结果应该为该分子在生理过程中可能发挥的作用提供新的理解，例如代谢、体重、繁殖、哺乳和生长的调节。 该探索性项目具有高风险和高潜在影响。 目前尚不清楚具体的发现是什么，但新的数据可能具有重大意义，超越神经内分泌学，扩展到调节生理学和发育生物学。 研究生和博士后培训也将在具有长期卓越记录的实验室进行。

Molecular compounds in the brain called neuropeptides often regulate physiological functions, acting similarly to hormones. A new member of the family of neuropeptides known as galanins recently has been isolated in mammals and called galanin-like peptide (GALP). Preliminary evidence suggests that GALP plays a role in the neuroendocrine regulation of pituitary functions, but little is yet known about the functions of this compound. This project uses neuroanatomical, physiological and molecular biological techniques to reveal the anatomical circuitry of the cells containing GALP, to discover how and where the expression of GALP occurs, and to develop a mutant mouse model with a targeted deletion of the GALP gene to reveal physiological functions. Results of these studies should provide a novel understanding of possible roles for this molecule in physiological processes such as regulation of metabolism, body weight, reproduction, lactation and growth. This exploratory project has both high risk and high potential impact. It remains unknown what the specific discoveries will be, but novel data are likely to have major importance, extending beyond neuroendocrinology to regulatory physiology and developmental biology. Graduate and postdoctoral training will also be done in a laboratory with a long record of excellence.