Here we report the coexpression of the neuropeptide galanin and GalR-1 galanin receptors in the human ciliary epithelium, a bilayer of neuroepithelial cells [nonpigmented (NPE) and pigmented (PE)] with neuroendocrine functions, and in a cell line (ODM-2) derived from the NPE cells. Stimulation of ODM-2 cells with phorbol ester [phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)] or forskolin resulted in an up-regulation (two- to threefold) of galanin mRNA expression. Procaterol, a selective beta2-adrenergic agonist, and the catecholamine isoproterenol exerted a long-term down-regulation on galanin mRNA expression when added alone or in combination with PMA or forskolin. These actions exerted by procaterol or isoproterenol were abolished in the presence of ICI 118,551, a selective beta2-adrenergic antagonist. A radioimmunoassay for galanin peptide indicated that galanin or a galanin-like product is present in the human aqueous humor fluid and is accumulated with time in the culture medium of ODM-2 cells. It is interesting that norepinephrine, which exhibited no effect on galanin mRNA expression, induced a down-regulation in the level of galanin or galanin-like product accumulated in the medium of cultured ODM-2 cells to levels even lower than those induced by beta2-adrenergic agonists. This effect is best explained by the concomitant up-regulation (four- to fivefold) of GalR-1 galanin receptor transcripts induced through the activation of alpha2-adrenergic receptors. These findings support the view that pathways elicited by the activation of alpha2- and beta2-adrenergic receptors influence the expression of galanin and GalR-1 galanin receptors in ciliary epithelial cells.