Description
Ghrelinisanendogenouspeptidehormonethatregulatesfeedingbehavior,energyhomeostasis,andsecretionofgrowthhormone,growthhormone-releasingfactor(GHRF/GHRH),andsomatostatin.Ghrelincounteractstheeffectsofleptin,exhibitingorexigenicactivityandincreasingfeedingbehaviorsuchasfoodintakeandbodyweight.GhrelinactivateseNOSinendothelialcells,stimulatingactivationofAMPKandAkt.Ghrelinalsoenhancesstress-inducedfearrespondinginvivoandincreaseslong-termpotentiation(LTP)anddendriticspinesynapseformation;italsoexhibitscognitionenhancingactivity,improvingspatiallearningandmemoryinotherinvivomodels.