This gene encodes a neuroendocrine peptide that is principally produced by a subpopulation of lactotrophs in the pituitary gland. The encoded protein is a precursor that is proteolytically processed to generate two mature peptides: galanin and galanin message-associated peptide (GMAP). Mice lacking the encoded protein fail to lactate sufficiently due to abnormalities in the expression of prolactin and lactotroph proliferation, exhibit attenuated chronic neuropathic pain and developmental deficits in the dorsal root ganglion neurons. This gene encodes distinct isoforms, some or all of which may undergo similar processing to generate the mature proteins. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2016]