title: The novel hypothalamic peptide ghrelin stimulates food intake and growth hormone secretion.
abstract: Ghrelin, a novel 28 amino acid peptide found in hypothalamus and stomach, was recently identified as the endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R). We have now found that both intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of ghrelin in freely feeding rats stimulated food intake. The onset of increased feeding was rapid and after i.c.v. administration was sustained for 24 hours. Following i.c.v. administration of 3 nmol ghrelin, the duration and magnitude of the feeding stimulation was similar to that following 5 nmol neuropeptide Y (NPY). Plasma growth hormone (GH) concentration increased following both i.c.v. and i.p. administration of ghrelin. Release of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) was stimulated and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) inhibited following i.c.v. administration of ghrelin. These data suggest a possible role for the newly identified endogenous hypothalamic peptide, ghrelin, in stimulation of feeding and growth hormone secretion.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Unit, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wren
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Dakin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taheri
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ghatei
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bloom
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects*; D054439:Ghrelin; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000494:pharmacology; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D010455:Peptides; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone