Growth hormone treatment modulates active ghrelin levels in rats. (February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Haddad, Haytham; Mroueh, Mohamad; Faour, Wissam H.; Daher, Costantine
• Is Part Of: Endocrine research. Volume 39:Number 1(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 39
• Page End: 43
• Publication Date: 2014-02
• Subjects: Endocrinology, Experimental -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; 616.4
• DOI: 10.3109/07435800.2013.799484
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0743-5800

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Introduction</italic>: Impairments in neuroendocrine regulation of food intake and postprandial satiety are leading causes to obesity. Ghrelin peptide is a GI hormone known to increase food intake partly through induction of growth hormone. The regulation of ghrelin production is still unknown. <italic>Objective</italic>: The aim of the current study is to investigate the influence of growth hormone (Genotropin) treatment on active ghrelin levels in plasma, stomach, pancreas and kidney in rats. <italic>Material/methods</italic>: Male Sprague-Dawley rats, randomly allocated into control and three treatment groups, received daily subcutaneous injections of Genotropin at 2, 20 and 100 µg/rat/day for 5 consecutive days. Active ghrelin levels were quantified per tissue mass or tissue protein. <italic>Results</italic>: In control groups, the highest active ghrelin concentration in pmol/g tissue was found in the stomach (15.5 ± 0.21) followed by the pancreas (1.96 ± 0.066) and the kidney (1.36 ± 0.037). Genotropin treatment caused a dose dependent decrease in active ghrelin concentration in stomach, kidney and pancreas with a concomitant increase in plasma, and reaching significance at 20 and 100 µg/rat/day doses. However, the treatment caused variable effect on total protein concentrations, with a decrease in pancreas and an increase in stomach and kidney supernatants. Consequently, under such treatment, determination of active ghrelin concentration per tissue mass rather than per tissue protein is favored. <italic>Conclusions</italic>: The present study suggests a direct correlation between Genotropin treatment and active ghrelin secretion into the rat plasma <italic>via</italic> modulating its stores in stomach, kidney and pancreas.</p> </abstract>