Distribution of ghrelin-immunoreactive neuronal networks in the human hypothalamus

Investigation of the presence of ghrelin in the central nervous system of the rat and mouse

“…In particular, an immunohistochemical study of human brain revealed strong labeling of nerve fibers in hypothalamic nuclei, while no reaction was detected in neuronal cell bodies (Menyhért et al, 2006). The antibodies used in that study were raised against the unacylated form of ghrelin and reveal a 13 kDa proghrelin in Western blots (Cowley et al, 2003).…”

“…In fact, peptide messengers are often difficult to locate in neuronal somata, requiring manipulations, such as colchicine treatment, to reveal the bodies of the cells that are the sources of immunoreactive terminals (Ljungdahl et al, 1978;Hökfelt et al, 1984;Boyer et al, 1994;Ekblad et al, 1996). In three reports, ghrelin immunoreactivity has been identified in axons in the hypothalamus (Lu et al, 2002;Cowley et al, 2003;Menyhért et al, 2006). However, these papers use antibodies against the nonacylated peptide, which may not locate the mature ghrelin peptide.…”

Functional neuroimaging demonstrates that ghrelin inhibits the central nervous system response to ingested lipid

“…Ghrelin immunoreactivity has been localised to nerve fibres in human hypothalamus compatible with a neurotransmitter function 36. The localisation of the ghrelin receptor, GHS-1, in human CNS remains unexplored, although there is evidence for expression in human nodose ganglion neurons 26.…”

Ghrelin Plasma Levels Are Not Altered in Major Depression

“…In the brain, ghrelin is predominantly synthesized in the hypothalamus, but GH secretagogue receptors have also been detected in various other brain regions such as the hippocampus and pituitary [17,18] . Ghrelin affects the majority of endocrine axes that are disturbed in major depression.…”