Regulation of GH secretagogue receptor gene expression in the rat nodose ganglion.

It has been shown that the ghrelin receptor, GH secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), is synthesized in neurons of the nodose ganglion and then transmitted to axon terminals, where it binds to ghrelin. The orexigenic signal of ghrelin secreted from the stomach is transmitted to the brain via the vagal afferent nerve. To explore the regulation of GHS-R synthesis in the nodose ganglion, we examined whether or not GHS-R type a mRNA expression shows circadian rhythm, and is affected by starvation, vagotomy, or i.v. administration of gastrointestinal peptides. Nodose ganglion GHS-R mRNA levels showed a diurnal rhythm, being high during periods of light and low during darkness. Although starvation tended to increase the level of GHS-R mRNA, a more significant increase was observed upon re-feeding. Vagotomy decreased the level of GHS-R mRNA significantly in comparison with animals that underwent a sham procedure. Cholecystokinin and gastrin increased the level of GHS-R mRNA after 2 h, but after 4 h, the level decreased. These results suggest that GHS-R synthesis in the nodose ganglion is regulated centrally and peripherally by neuronal and humoral information, and that these dynamic changes of GHS-R mRNA expression may be involved in the regulation of feeding by ghrelin.