Prolactin-releasing peptide receptor (GPR10)

The **prolactin-releasing peptide receptor** is a class A rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptor primarily activated by endogenous prolactin-releasing peptides PrRP20 and PrRP31. It was originally identified as an orphan GPCR named GPR10 but is now officially designated PRLHR. This receptor is widely expressed throughout the brain—including hypothalamic nuclei involved in endocrine regulation—as well as peripheral tissues such as pancreas and cartilage. Upon activation by its ligand(s), it couples mainly through the Gq/11 pathway but can also engage Gi/o proteins, leading to diverse downstream signaling events including increased intracellular calcium flux. Functionally, it plays key roles in regulating food intake/appetite suppression, energy expenditure/homeostasis, stress responses, neuroprotection against degeneration/injury, cardiovascular adaptation during pregnancy/postpartum periods (notably peripartum cardiomyopathy), maintenance of normal glucose metabolism via pancreatic β-cell proliferation/protection during pregnancy/maternal states—and has been implicated experimentally in protecting cartilage from apoptosis under inflammatory conditions. While there are no approved drugs directly targeting this molecule yet—its structural characterization has made it an attractive candidate for drug discovery efforts aimed at treating obesity/metabolic disorders or providing neuroprotective benefits.

Other names

G protein-coupled receptor 10GPR10PRLHRhGR3PrRPR

Drugs or ligands targeting this molecule typically act as agonists to stimulate the receptor’s activity—leading to increased intracellular calcium signaling via coupling with Gq/11 or Gi/o proteins—and modulate downstream physiological processes such as hormone secretion or appetite suppression.