Exogenous ghrelin regulates proliferation and apoptosis in the hypotrophic gut mucosa of the rat

Ghrelin is the natural endogenous ligand for growth hormone secretagogue receptors. This peptide regulates energy homeostasis and expenditure and is a potential link between gut absorptive function and growth. We hypothesized that ghrelin may induce a proliferative and antiapoptotic action promoting...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.) Vol. 235; no. 4; p. 463
Main Authors:	de Segura, Ignacio A Gómez, Vallejo-Cremades, María Teresa, Lomas, Jesús, Sánchez, Miriam F, Caballero, María Isabel, Largo, Carlota, De Miguel, Enrique
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England 01-04-2010
Subjects:	Animals Apoptosis - drug effects Cell Proliferation - drug effects Diet - veterinary Ghrelin - metabolism Ghrelin - pharmacology Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - metabolism Intestinal Mucosa - anatomy & histology Intestinal Mucosa - drug effects Intestinal Mucosa - pathology Male Random Allocation Rats Rats, Wistar Receptors, Ghrelin - metabolism
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Summary:	Ghrelin is the natural endogenous ligand for growth hormone secretagogue receptors. This peptide regulates energy homeostasis and expenditure and is a potential link between gut absorptive function and growth. We hypothesized that ghrelin may induce a proliferative and antiapoptotic action promoting the recovery of the hypotrophic gut mucosa. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the action of exogenous ghrelin following gut mucosal hypotrophia in rats fed an elemental diet. An elemental diet provides readily absorbable simple nutrients and is usually given to patients with absorptive dysfunction. Male Wistar rats (n = 48) were fed the elemental diet for one week to induce mucosal hypotrophy and then treated for another week with systemic ghrelin and pair-fed with either a normoproteic or hyperproteic isocaloric liquid diet. Another group received a standard diet instead of the elemental diet and served as control (normotrophy). The elemental diet induced intestinal hypotrophia characterized by decreased proliferation in the ileum and increased apoptosis in jejunum and ileum. Ghrelin administration restored normal levels of proliferation in the ileum and apoptosis in the jejunum, with partial apoptosis restoration in the ileum. Ghrelin levels in plasma and fundus were increased in all groups, although the highest levels were found in rats treated with exogenous ghrelin. Ghrelin administration has a positive effect in the hypotrophic gut, regulating both proliferation and apoptosis towards a physiological balance counteracting the negative changes induced by an elemental diet in the intestines.
ISSN:	1535-3699
DOI:	10.1258/ebm.2009.009247