Morphofimctional analysis ofGalanin-lice Peptide on regulation offeeding and enegy metabolism

下丘脑在调节动物的摄食行为、能量代谢和繁殖中起着至关重要的作用。在猪下丘脑中发现了一种新的肽，它含有60个氨基酸的肽段和一个未修饰的c端。由于该肽部分与甘丙肽同源，故称为甘丙肽样肽（GALP）。GALP主要产生于下丘脑弓状核。GALP作用于中枢神经系统，参与摄食行为的调节。产生galp的神经元与下丘脑中几个与摄食相关的产生肽的神经元形成神经元网络。由于GALP控制着食物摄入和能量平衡，GALP可能是肥胖发生的一个重要因素。此外，我们还成功制备了在含GALP神经元中表达增强绿色荧光（EGFP）的转基因（Tg）小鼠和在脑内传入GALP神经元中表达EGFP的Tg小鼠。因此，我们首次证明了含有galp的神经元从梨状皮质和杏仁核获得突触输入。因此，GALP可能与摄食行为、能量代谢和繁殖有关，对GALP形态和功能的进一步研究应继续证明对脑功能的进一步认识。

The hypothalamus plays a critical role in regulation of feeding behavior, energy metabolism and reproduction. A novel peptide discovered in porcine hypothalamus has 60 amino acid peptide and a non-amidated C-terminus. Since a portion of this peptide is homology with galanin, it is named galanin-like peptide (GALP). GALP is mainly produced in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. GALP acts in the central nervous system, where it is involved in the regulation of feeding behavior. GALP-producing neurons were shown to make neuron networks with several feeding related peptide-producing neurons in the hypothalamus. Since GALP controls food intake and energy balance, it is possible that GALP is an important factor in development of obesity. Furthermore, we have succeeded to make transgenic (Tg) mice that express enhanced green fluorescence (EGFP) in GALP-containing neurons and also to make Tg mice that express EGFP in afferent GALP neurons in brain. As a result, we have first shown that GALP-containing neurons make synaptic input from the pyriform cortex and amygdala. Therefore, GALP may involve in feeding behavior, energy metabolism and reproduction, further studies on the morphology and function of GALP should continue to demonstrate further the understanding in brain function.