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Revista Venezolana de Endocrinología y Metabolismo
versión impresa ISSN 1690-3110
Resumen
TUCCI, Sonia. Grelina en regulación del apetito y papel en obesidad y trastornos alimentarios: Abordajes terapéuticos. Rev. Venez. Endocrinol. Metab. [online]. 2008, vol.6, n.2, pp.15-23. ISSN 1690-3110.
Ghrelin is a peptide hormone secreted by the stomach. It was initially described as a stimulant of growth hormone secretion. Soon, however, it was discovered to play an important role in feeding behaviour in animals and in appetite regulation in man: ghrelin stimulates appetite, and as such is an orexigenic peptide implicated in energy balance mechanisms and weight gain. Abnormal ghrelin activity leads to over- or underweight. Additionally, the efficacy of different treatment strategies against obesity seems to be related to modifications in plasma ghrelin levels. Whereas the effects of ghrelin in the regulation of appetite, food intake and energy homeostasis have been fairly well documented, the pathways responsible for the effects of ghrelin are now increasingly being understood. As a consequence, clinical applications of ghrelin are now being developed. The purpose of this review is to provide updated information on the role of ghrelin in food intake and energy homeostasis, and on its mechanism of action. Moreover, the potential of ghrelin as a target for drugs to treat cachexia and obesity will be discussed.
Palabras clave : Energy homeostasis; metabolism; appetite; weight; body fat; hypothalamus; bulimia anorexia.