Neurohormonal regulation of the insulin stimulus-secretion coupling in pancreatic islets

Synthesis of galmic: a nonpeptide galanin receptor agonist

Galanin is a neuropeptide with a wide variety of biological functions. Few nonpeptide ligands, capable of activating galanin receptors, are available today. Based on known pharmacophores of galanin and the tripeptidomimetic galnon, a combinatorial library was formulated, synthesized, and screened against the galanin receptor. An active compound, galmic, was identified and tested in vitro and in vivo for its affinity and efficacy at galanin receptors. The present work describes the total synthesis of galmic, the synthesis of its oxazole precursors, the coupling of the building blocks into a linear trimer, and the macrolactamization reaction.

Effects of centrally injected GLP-1 in various experimental models of gastric mucosal damage

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is accepted to be a peptide involved in the central regulation of gastrointestinal function, but its potential gastroprotective effect is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether intracerebroventricularly injected GLP-1 has protective effects on gastric mucosal lesions induced by several models, and if yes, whether these effects are due to the gastric antisecretory effect of the peptide. GLP-1 which was injected in three different doses (1, 10, 100 ng/10 microl; i.c.v.) to conscious rats prevented the mucosal lesions induced by reserpine and ethanol, but did not prevent the gastric mucosal lesions induced by pyloric ligation. In addition, 1 ng/10 microl dose of centrally injected GLP-1 inhibited gastric acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. As a result, we conclude that intracerebroventricularly injected GLP-1 may play a role in the prevention of gastric mucosal lesions induced by certain experimental models and this gastroprotective effect may be independent from its antisecretory effect.

Anticonvulsant activity of a nonpeptide galanin receptor agonist

Galanin is a neuropeptide with a wide variety of biological functions, including that of a strong endogenous anticonvulsant. No nonpeptide ligands, capable of activating galanin receptors, are available today. Based on known pharmacophores of galanin, a combinatorial library was designed, synthesized, and screened at the rat hippocampal galanin receptor. A low molecular weight galanin receptor agonist, 7-((9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)cyclohexylalanyllysyl)amino-4-methylcoumarin (galnon) was found to displace (125)I-galanin with micromolar affinity at Bowes cellular and rat hippocampal membranes. Autoradiographic binding assay on rat spinal cord sections confirmed the ability of galnon to displace (125)I-galanin from its binding sites. Galnon inhibited adenylate cyclase activity, suggesting an agonist action at galanin receptors. When injected i.p. galnon reduced the severity and increased the latency of pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in mice and reversed the proconvulsant effects of the galanin receptor antagonist M35, injected into a lateral ventricle. Intrahippocampal injection of galnon also shortened the duration of self-sustaining status epilepticus in rats, confirming its agonist properties in vivo. Pretreatment of rats with antisense peptide nucleic acid targeted to galanin receptor type 1 mRNA abolished the effect of galnon, suggesting mediation of its anticonvulsant properties through this receptor subtype. These findings introduce a systemically active nonpeptide galanin agonist anticonvulsant.