Ghrelin and the Regulation of Food Intake and Energy Balance

  1. Hiroshi Hosoda1,3,
  2. Masayasu Kojima2 and
  3. Kenji Kangawa1,3
  1. 1Department of Biochemistry, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka 565-8565, Japan
  2. 2Institute of Life Science, Kurume University, Kurume, Fukuoka 839-0861, Japan
  3. 3Translational Research Centre, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan

Abstract

Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, is synthesized principally in the stomach and is released in response to acute and chronic changes in nutritional state. In addition to having a powerful effect on the secretion of growth hormone, ghrelin stimulates food intake and transduces signals to hypothalamic regulatory nuclei that control energy homeostasis. Thus, it is interesting to note that the stomach may play an important role in not only digestion but also pituitary growth hormone release and central feeding regulation. We summarize recent findings on the integration of ghrelin into neuroendocrine networks that regulate food intake and energy balance.

Graphic

| Table of Contents