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Hypothalamic targets for growth hormone secretagogues
Author(s) -
Robinson ICAF
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1997.tb18382.x
Subject(s) - secretagogue , endocrinology , medicine , endogeny , growth hormone secretagogue receptor , ghrelin , receptor , hormone , thyrotropin releasing hormone receptor , growth hormone releasing hormone receptor , growth hormone–releasing hormone , in vivo , peptide hormone , growth hormone , biology , hormone receptor , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer , breast cancer
Various novel growth hormone (GH) secretagogues have been developed. GH secretagogues release GH directly from the pituitary via a pathway distinct from that involving GH‐releasing hormone (GHRH). However, they also act centrally to activate hypothalamic neurones, and require an intact GHRH system for potent in vivo activity. Both normal and transgenic growth‐retarded (Tgr) rats release GH in response to GH secretagogues, and their responses are sensitive to the pattern of secretagogue administration. GH secretagogues are not completely specific for GH release, but also activate the adrenocorticotrophin‐adrenal axis, implying that they have additional central actions. The recent cloning of an endogenous receptor for GH secretagogues now makes it possible to identify central targets for their action. An endogenous receptor implies the existence of an endogenous ligand, but its, site of production, relationship to the xenobiotic pharmacological agents and its underlying physiological relevance remain unclear. □ Growth hormone secretagogue, adrenocorticotrophin, growth hormone‐releasing hormone, transgenic rats, GH secretagogue receptor, growth hormone‐releasing peptide‐6