Galanin inhibits the proliferation of glial olfactory ensheathing cells.

The effect of galanin (GAL) on neural proliferation was studied in this article using olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs). OECs were isolated from newborn rat olfactory bulb and cultured in vitro. RT-PCR was used to determine the expression of GAL and its receptors in these cells. MTT analysis and LDH assay were used to detect the effects of GAL and the agonist, antagonist of GAL receptors on the proliferation of OECs. Results show that OECs express mRNAs for GAL and GAL receptor2 (GalR2) but not for the two other GAL receptors, GalR1 and GalR3. In addition, GAL and two receptor agonists, GAL1-11 and GAL2-11, can inhibit the proliferation of OECs significantly, but cause no cytotoxicity in the OECs population. Moreover, the influence can be blocked by M35, a nonspecific antagonist of GAL receptors. It is suggested that GAL is an inhibitory factor in regulating OECs proliferation.