GALR3 a 368 and 370 amino acid protein in human and rat, respectively, belongs to a family of G protein-coupled receptors that bind the neuropeptide galanin, which is distributed throughout the central and peripheral nervous system, the pituitary gland, the gastrointestinal tract and in the endocrine and exocrine pancreas. GALR3 mRNA is widely distributed, but expressed at low abundance. In human, GALR3 mRNA is highly expressed in the hypothalamus, pituitary and testis, and is expressed to a lesser extent in adrenal gland and pancreas. Rat and human GALR3 co-express with potassium channel subunits GIRK1 and GIRK4. Like GALR1, GALR3 signaling pathways lead to the inhibition of adenylate cyclase and to the activation of potassium channels, which are linked to the regulation of neurotransmitter release. Binding of galanin to galanin receptors results in increased feeding, impaired learning, enhanced opiate analgesia and decreased opiate place preference.