Neuropeptides B/W Receptor 1 (NPBWR1)

GPR7 and GPR8 were demonstrated to have discrete distributions in the brain. The intronless coding sequences of GPR7 and GPR8 had 70% identity with each other and each shared significant similarity with the sequences encoding transmembrane regions of the opioid and somatostatin receptors.

Northern blot analysis using human mRNA demonstrated expression of GPR7 mainly in cerebellum and frontal cortex, while GPR8 was located mainly in the frontal cortex. In situ hybridization revealed expression of GPR7 in the human pituitary. Initial pharmacologic studies indicated binding to several opioid drugs, but not to the opioid receptor subtype-specific mu, delta, or kappa agonists.