title: Pathophysiology of gastrointestinal hormones. Implications for paediatrics.
abstract: Gastrointestinal hormones (GI hormones) have received growing interest in endocrinology, gastroenterology and neuroendocrinology. Because of new methodological techniques, they can be measured in plasma and therefore be related to different pathophysiological conditions. In childhood, our present knowledge is as yet limited to the physiological rôle of gastrin at different ages and in some diseases (gastrinoma; Verner-Morrison syndrome) caused by humoral dysfunction. The present review relates the clinical important GI hormones to chemically classified families. The diagnostic value of determining endogenous hormone concentration in plasma and the validity of function tests carried out by administration of exogenous hormones are pointed out. Particular emphasis is given to the trophic action of GI hormones in the development and function of the gastrointestinal tract during childhood. More speculatively, GI hormones are involved in the complex function of the central nervous system, thus making food intake a trophotropic action in a broader sense.
mesh_terms: D007516:Adenoma, Islet Cell / Q000097:blood; D001839:Bombesin / Q000502:physiology; D002108:Ceruletide / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000502:physiology; D005749:Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide / Q000502:physiology; D005755:Gastrins / Q000502:physiology; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D004763:Glucagon-Like Peptides / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009037:Motilin / Q000502:physiology; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000502:physiology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide / Q000502:physiology; D012633:Secretin / Q000502:physiology; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000502:physiology; D013373:Substance P / Q000502:physiology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005755:Gastrins; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D012633:Secretin; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D009496:Neurotensin; D013004:Somatostatin; D009037:Motilin; D005749:Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide; D010191:Pancreatic Polypeptide; D004763:Glucagon-Like Peptides; D002108:Ceruletide; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D001839:Bombesin