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The Role of Growth Hormone Secretagogues and Ghrelin in Feeding and Body Composition

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Energy Metabolism and Obesity

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

Abstract

In 1984, when it was first demonstrated that growth hormone releasing peptide (GHRP) markedly augmented growth hormone (GH) release in several animal species and increased body weight after daily subcutaneous administration, we postulated that it reflected the activity of a new hypothalamic hypophysiotropic hormone different from growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH). This implied that it could become valuable clinically to enhance body growth in children via an anabolic nitrogen retention action of GH. A great impetus to develop GHRP/growth hormone secretagogues (GHSs) as therapeutic agents was the cloning of the GHS receptor, GHSR-1a, and identification of the natural hormone ghrelin, which is a unique and novel physiologic regulator of both GH secretion and food intake. Metabolism requires multiple balanced hormonal and cellular actions and interactions of an inordinate complexity, and thus the primary dual action of ghrelin/GHSs on both GH secretion and food intake teleologically seem most reasonable and sound. The fundamental action of these dual effects is underscored in body growth of children and the impaired action of GH in the undernourished, and, thus, this is considered a major principle in the development of the GHSs. Importantly, GHSs and ghrelin have essentially the same actions on GH and food intake, and, when administered continuously to humans for extended time periods, both stimulate the sustained normal physiologic pulsatile secretion of GH. In spite of only small increases in serum pulsatile GH concentrations, both GHSs and ghrelin markedly enhance the increase of serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and its binding proteins.

The complementary actions of GHSs as well as ghrelin in combination with GHRH again demonstrate that GHSs and ghrelin have the same actions on the GH axis and also demonstrate how ghrelin may act physiologically with GHRH especially as only low amounts of ghrelin as well as GHSs produce these effects. These data support the physiologic actions of both peptides during extended chronic continuous infusion.

The very recent discovery of the new hormone obestatin from the same gene as ghrelin as well as its receptor identification as G-protein orphan receptor 39 (GPR39) bring an outstanding dimension and focus to the role of GHSs/ghrelin in feeding and body composition.

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Abstract

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Authors
  1. Cyril Y. Bowers
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  2. Blandine Laferrére
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  3. David L. Hurley
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  4. Johannes D. Veldhuis
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  1. University of lowa, lowa City, IA

    Patricia A. Donohoue MD

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Bowers, C.Y., Laferrére, B., Hurley, D.L., Veldhuis, J.D. (2007). The Role of Growth Hormone Secretagogues and Ghrelin in Feeding and Body Composition. In: Donohoue, P.A. (eds) Energy Metabolism and Obesity. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-139-4_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-139-4_8

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

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