title: Molecular forms of hypothalamic ghrelin and its regulation by fasting and 2-deoxy-d-glucose administration.
abstract: Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for the GH secretagogue receptor, is a hormone expressed in stomach and other tissues, such as hypothalamus, testis, and placenta. This hormone acts at a central level to stimulate GH secretion and food intake. Little is known, however, about the molecular forms and physiological roles of ghrelin within the hypothalamus. In this report, we detail the molecular forms, mRNA expression patterns, and peptide contents of ghrelin within the rat hypothalamus. Using the combination of reverse-phase HPLC and ghrelin-specific RIA, we determined that the rat hypothalamus contains both n-octanoyl-modified and des-acyl ghrelins. Fasting for 24 and 48 h significantly decreased ghrelin mRNA expression in the hypothalamus to 24% and 28% of control values, respectively. Both n-octanoyl-modified and des-acyl ghrelin content in the hypothalamus decreased after 24 and 48 h of fasting. These results contrast the changes in gastric ghrelin after fasting, which decreased in content despite increased mRNA expression. Two hours after injection of 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG), a selective blocker of carbohydrate metabolism, ghrelin peptide levels also decreased. Thus, induction of glucoprivic states, such as fasting and 2-DG treatment, decreased ghrelin gene expression and peptide content within the hypothalamus.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Genetics, Institute of Life Sciences, Kurume University, Fukuoka 839-0864, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukue
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Teranishi
authors.forename: Yayoi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Masayasu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kojima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000494:pharmacology; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D054439:Ghrelin; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013270:Stomach / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000963:Antimetabolites; D054439:Ghrelin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C422650:ghrelin, des-n-octanoyl; D003847:Deoxyglucose