title: Physiological roles revealed by ghrelin and ghrelin receptor deficient mice.
abstract: Ghrelin is a hormone made in the stomach and known primarily for its growth hormone releasing and orexigenic properties. Nevertheless, ghrelin through its receptor, the GHS-R1a, has been shown to exert many roles including regulation of glucose homeostasis, memory & learning, food addiction and neuroprotection. Furthermore, ghrelin could promote overall health and longevity by acting directly in the immune system and promoting an extended antigen repertoire. The development of mice lacking either ghrelin (ghrelin-/-) or its receptor (ghsr-/-) have provided a valuable tool for determining the relevance of ghrelin and its receptor in these multiple and diverse roles. In this review, we summarize the most important findings and lessons learned from the ghrelin-/- and ghsr-/- mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Metabolism and Aging, Scripps Research Institute Florida, 130 Scripps Way B3B, Jupiter, FL 33458, United States. rzeckler@scripps.edu
authors.forename: Rosie G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Albarran-Zeckler
authors.forename: Yuxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Roy G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D020738:Leptin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D023421:Models, Animal; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D020738:Leptin; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin; D005947:Glucose