Mammalian bombesin-like peptide neurotransmitter that is an agonist for the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR). GRP has been reported to activate GABAergic interneurons in the amygdala leading to increased GABA release and fear suppression in mice
Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is a neuropeptide that stimulates gastrin release. It binds to (Ki = 300 nM) and stimulates amylase secretion in rat pancreatic AR42J cells (EC50 = 0.3 nM). GRP increases proliferation of human liver carcinoma HepG2 and MHCC97H cells but does not affect the proliferation of normal HL-7702 liver cells at a concentration of 1 nM. In vivo, GRP (0.35 nmol/kg/h) increases both pancreatic exocrine secretion and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) release in rats. It dose-dependently stimulates gastrin, pancreatic amylase, lipase, bilirubin, and acid output and induces gallbladder contraction in humans when administered at doses ranging from 1 to 27 pmol/kg per hour.
Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is a neuropeptide with growth-stimulatory and tumorigenic properties, and neuropeptides have previously been suggested to play a role in the complex cascade of chemical activity associated with periodontal inflammation.