Characterisation of an endogenous bombesin receptor in CHO/DG44 cells

Bombesin and its receptors have been shown to have a role regulating circad ian rhythms in the hamster suprachiasmatic and dorsal raphe nuclei and have been implicated in the regulation of sleep. We have identified and charact erised a bombesin receptor endogenously expressed in a Chinese hamster ovar y cell line (CHO/DG44). Using a range of bombesin-like peptides, we demonst rate that this receptor displays bombesin BB2 receptor-like pharmacology. W e also show that this receptor signals through inositol-[1,4,5]-trisphospha te and protein kinase C and thus provides a useful model system to aid in t he interpretation of hamster suprachiasmatic nucleus studies of mammalian c ircadian rhythm. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.