Ghrelin strongly stimulates growth hormone (GH) release in humans

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 85; no. 12; pp. 4908 - 4911
• Main Authors: TAKAYA, Kazuhiko, ARIYASU, Hiroyuki, OGAWA, Yoshihiro, HOSODA, Kiminori, AKAMIZU, Takashi, KOJIMA, Masayasu, KANGAWA, Kenji, NAKAO, Kazuwa, KANAMOTO, Naotetsu, IWAKURA, Hiroshi, YOSHIMOTO, Akihiro, HARADA, Masaki, MORI, Kiyoshi, KOMATSU, Yasato, USUI, Takeshi, SHIMATSU, Akira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Endocrine Society 01.12.2000
• Subjects: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - blood; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Ghrelin; Hormones and neuropeptides. Regulation; Human Growth Hormone - blood; Human Growth Hormone - metabolism; Humans; Hypothalamus. Hypophysis. Epiphysis. Urophysis; Luteinizing Hormone - blood; Male; Peptide Hormones; Peptides - pharmacology; Prolactin - blood; Recombinant Proteins - pharmacology; Time Factors; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Human; Somatotropin releasing factor; Peptide hormone; Somatotropin hormone; Gonadotropin; Glycoprotein hormone; Biological activity; Endocrine secretion; Hypothalamic hormone; Protein hormone; Adenohypophyseal hormone; Hormonal regulation; Luteinizing hormone; Hormonal investigation; Somatostatin; Hormone releasing factor; Follicle stimulating hormone
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.85.12.4908

Ghrelin is a recently identified endogenous ligand for the GH secretagogue receptor and is involved in a novel system for regulating GH release. However, little is known about its GH-releasing activity and other endocrine effects in humans. To address this issue, we studied the GH, ACTH, cortisol, PRL, LH, FSH, and TSH responses to synthetic human ghrelin. In four normal male adults (28-37 yr), iv ghrelin administration released GH in a dose-dependent manner and 0.2, 1.0, and 5.0 microg/kg ghrelin produced 43.3 +/- 6.0, 81.5 +/- 12.7, and 107.0 +/- 10.7 ng/mL of the GH peak values at 30 min, respectively. ACTH, cortisol, and PRL levels were also elevated after ghrelin injection, while the lowest dose (0.2 microg/kg) resulted in only minimum peak values of these hormones (22.8 +/- 3.0 pg/mL, 9.4 +/- 1.9 microg/dL, and 4.6 +/- 0.6 ng/mL, respectively). There were no significant changes in LH, FSH, or TSH levels. This is the first study showing evidence that ghrelin strongly stimulates GH release in humans.