International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review Prolactin-Releasing Peptide: Physiological and Pharmacological Properties Veronika Pražienková 1, Andrea Popelová 1, Jaroslav Kuneš 1,2 and Lenka Maletínská 1,* 1 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences 16610 Prague, Czech Republic;
[email protected] (V.P.);
[email protected] (A.P.);
[email protected] (J.K.) 2 Experimental Hypertension, Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 14200 Prague, Czech Republic * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +420-220-183-567 Received: 2 October 2019; Accepted: 23 October 2019; Published: 24 October 2019 Abstract: Prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) belongs to the large RF-amide neuropeptide family with a conserved Arg-Phe-amide motif at the C-terminus. PrRP plays a main role in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. This review focuses not only on the physiological functions of PrRP, but also on its pharmacological properties and the actions of its G-protein coupled receptor, GPR10. Special attention is paid to structure-activity relationship studies on PrRP and its analogs as well as to their effect on different physiological functions, mainly their anorexigenic and neuroprotective features and the regulation of the cardiovascular system, pain, and stress. Additionally, the therapeutic potential of this peptide and its analogs is explored. Keywords: prolactin-releasing peptide; GPR10; RF-amide peptides; food intake regulation; energy expenditure; neuroprotection; signaling 1. Introduction There is no doubt that the function of prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) in organisms is quite important as its structure is well conserved within different animal species.