Structure, distribution and physiological functions of ghrelin in fish
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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

A RAPID Method for Blood Processing to Increase the Yield of Plasma Peptide Levels in Human Blood
Published on: April 28, 2016
Suraj Unniappan1, Richard E Peter
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9.
Abstract:
Ghrelin was originally purified and characterized in rats and humans as the first identified endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. In mammals, ghrelin is mainly produced in the stomach, with minor levels of ghrelin present in the brain and various other tissues. Ghrelin is involved in the regulation of many physiological functions including the regulation of growth hormone secretion and food intake in mammals. The gene and peptide structures of ghrelin have been recently identified in several fish species. As in mammals, ghrelin mRNA is mainly expressed in the gut of fish. Ghrelin is involved in the regulation of a number of physiological functions, including the regulation of pituitary hormone release and the stimulation of food intake in fish. In this review, we wish to provide an up-to-date discussion on the structure, distribution and functions of ghrelin in fish, in comparison to ghrelin in other vertebrates.
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