title: Ghrelin--not just another stomach hormone.
abstract: Growth hormone (GH) secretagogues (GHSs) are non-natural, synthetic substances that stimulate GH secretion via a G-protein-coupled receptor called the GHS-receptor (GHS-R). The natural ligand for the GHS-R has been identified recently; it is called ghrelin. Ghrelin and its receptor show a widespread distribution in the body; the greatest expression of ghrelin is in stomach endocrine cells. Administration of exogenous ghrelin has been shown to stimulate pituitary GH secretion, appetite, body growth and fat deposition. Ghrelin was probably designed to be a major anabolic hormone. Ghrelin also exerts several other activities in the stomach. The findings that ghrelin is produced in mucosal endocrine cells of the stomach and intestine, and that ghrelin is measurable in the general circulation indicate its hormonal nature. A maximal expression of ghrelin in the stomach suggests that there is a gastrointestinal hypothalamic-pituitary axis that influences GH secretion, body growth and appetite that is responsive to nutritional and caloric intakes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Shriners Hospitals for Children and The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0725, USA.
authors.forename: Guiyun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Heung Man
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Englander
authors.forename: George H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Greeley
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D054439:Ghrelin; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D010455:Peptides; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone