Galanin in glia: expression and potential roles in the CNS

The roles of galanin in central nervous system (CNS) development and the normal adult CNS have been extensively reviewed in this volume and elsewhere. There is also ample evidence that galanin expression is induced following neural injury in the CNS, and has neuroprotective properties separate from its role in normal physiology. Although strong injury-mediated up-regulation of galanin occurs in neurons, there is increasing evidence, accumulated over almost two decades, that glial cells can express galanin in the injured brain and during white matter development. In this chapter, we review the available evidence and canvas the potential functional significance of glial galanin expression.