What is Ghrelin

Ghrelin is the endogenous ligand for the receptor of the growth hormone secretagogue (GHS-R) present on the pituitary cells secrete growth hormone. Ghrelin and motilin and GHS-R and the motilin receptor are structurally related. Ghrelin, surprisingly, is the most abundant in the stomach and the GHS-R is also in the stomach and other organs and tissues, effects on the stimulation of growth hormone from the pituitary gland which suggests, particularly in the regulation of gastrointestinal function. But still seems rather a ghrelin through the digestive system works differently signal that regulates digestion. The most important role of ghrelin seems to stimulate appetite and regulate energy homeostasis, favoring adiposity and contribute to obesity. As recently suggested, ghrelin may therefore "saginary" (fattening) peptide called. Ghrelin can affect the secretion of gastric acid and gastric protection, but the proposed role of ghrelin in infection by Helicobacter pylori, in turn involves saginary effect. Ghrelin is functionally related to the motilin because it also stimulates gastrointestinal motility. In rodents taken motilin function have ghrelin, such as motilin natural knockouts are rodents. Ghrelin appears as an endocrine signal can reach the central nervous system via the blood stream. However, he also used neural pathways, particularly the vagus. A better understanding of the physiology of ghrelin may lead to new therapies for the treatment of obesity and hypomotility syndromes.