Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
9
pubmed:dateCreated
2005-12-22
pubmed:abstractText
Ghrelin, an acylated peptide produced predominantly by the stomach, has been discovered to be a natural ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHS-R1a). It is localized in distinct cells of the gastric mucosa, mainly distributed in the mid portion of the oxyntic gland characterized by P/D1 granules in man and X/A-like granules in rodents. The ghrelin cell represents the second most frequent endocrine cell type after the enterochromaffin-like cells in gastric oxyntic mucosa, pointing to a potentially relevant role in the physiology of the stomach. Ghrelin has no relevant homology with any known gastrointestinal peptide and displays strong GH-releasing activity both in animals and in humans. However, in addition to stimulating GH secretion, ghrelin possesses several other endocrine and extraendocrine biological activities that are explained by the widespread distribution of ghrelin and GHS-R1a expression. In the rat, ghrelin exerts a control in gastric acid secretion and motility: the gastric acid secretion is stimulated by peripheral administration of high doses of ghrelin, but inhibited by very low doses of ghrelin delivered into the central nervous system. Moreover, ghrelin provides a potent and dose-related gastroprotective action against ethanol- and stress-induced gastric ulcers. The integrity of both nitric oxide (NO) system and capsaicin afferent nerves are required for the gastroprotective effect of ghrelin, whereas the vagus nerve might be involved in conveying ghrelinergic signal from periphery to the brain. In addition, prostaglandins derived by the constitutive cyclooxygenase (COX) activity are essential for the protective activity of ghrelin in ethanol and stress-induced gastric lesions. Given its prevailing role in physiological and pathophysiological gastric function, the discovery of ghrelin will open new perspectives and potential clinical implications in the gastroenteric field.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
0391-4097
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
28
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
843-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2005
pubmed:articleTitle
Ghrelin in gastroenteric pathophysiology.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Experimental and Environmental Medicine and Biotechnology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy. vittorialocatelli@unimib.it
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't