The galanin receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor, or metabotropic receptor which binds galanin.
[1] Galanin receptors can be found throughout the peripheral and central nervous systems and the endocrine system.
So far three subtypes are known to exist: GAL-R1, GAL-R2, and GAL-R3.
[2] The specific function of each subtype remains to be fully elucidated, although as of 2009 great progress is currently being made in this respect with the generation of receptor subtype-specific knockout mice,[3][4] and the first selective ligands for galanin receptor subtypes.
Selective galanin agonists are anticonvulsant,[5][6][7] while antagonists produce antidepressant and anxiolytic effects in animals,[8][9][10][11][12] so either agonist or antagonist ligands for the galanin receptors may be potentially therapeutic compounds in humans.