Endocrine Abstracts

Neuromedin B (NMB) is a highly conserved bombesin-related peptide found in mammals. The mammalian bombesin family of receptors consists of three closely related G protein coupled receptors, BB1, BB2 and BB3. The BB1 receptor subtype has the highest affinity for NMB. NMB mRNA is detected in the CNS and is expressed at relatively high levels in the rat hypothalamus, in particular the medial preoptic area and the arcuate nucleus.<p ...

Case history: An 18 year old male student presented to the dentist with an eight week history of left-sided facial pain and swelling. He was subsequently referred to the maxillofacial team. His only previous medical encounter was for a traumatic right humerus fracture following a roller-skating injury. He took no regular medication. His father died of an unknown malignant process several years previous and family history was otherwise unremarkable. On questioning, the patient ...

Alarin is the most recently discovered member of the galanin peptide family, and is encoded by a splice variant of galanin-like peptide (GALP) mRNA. Galanin and GALP are known to regulate energy homeostasis and reproduction. Galanin is thought to mediate its effects via the three-galanin receptors. GALP also binds to these known galanin receptors, but evidence suggests that it may also act via an as yet unknown GALP specific receptor. The role of alarin in energy homeostasis a...