Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) neurons in the arcuate nucleus (Arc) of the hypothalamus are decreased in transgenic rats whose expression of ghrelin receptor is attenuated: Evidence that ghrelin receptor is involved in the up-regulation of GHRH expression in the arc.

GH secretagogue (GHS)/ghrelin stimulates GH secretion by binding mainly to its receptor (GHS-R) on GHRH neurons in the arcuate nucleus (Arc) of the hypothalamus. GHRH, somatostatin, and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the hypothalamus are involved in the regulatory mechanism of GH secretion. We previously created transgenic (Tg) rats whose GHS-R expression is reduced in the Arc, showing lower body weight and shorter nose-tail length. GH secretion is decreased in female Tg rats. To clarify how GHS-R affects GHRH expression in the Arc, we compared the numbers of GHS-R-positive, GHRH, and NPY neurons between Tg and wild-type rats. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the numbers of GHS-R-positive neurons, GHRH neurons, and GHS-R-positive GHRH neurons were reduced in Tg rats, whereas the numbers of NPY neurons and GHS-R-positive NPY neurons did not differ between the two groups. The numbers of Fos-positive neurons and Fos-positive GHRH neurons in response to KP-102 were decreased in Tg rats. Competitive RT-PCR analysis of GHRH mRNA expression in the cultured hypothalamic neurons showed that KP-102 increased NPY mRNA expression level and that NPY decreased GHRH mRNA expression level. KP-102 increased GHRH mRNA expression level in the presence of anti-NPY IgG. GH increased somatostatin mRNA expression. Furthermore, GH and somatostatin decreased GHRH mRNA expression, whereas KP-102 showed no significant effect on somatostatin mRNA expression. These results suggest that GHS-R is involved in the up-regulation of GHRH and NPY expression and that NPY, somatostatin, and GH suppress GHRH expression. It is also suggested that the reduction of GHRH neurons of Tg rats is induced by a decrease in GHS-R expression.