Ghrelin localization in rat and human thyroid and parathyroid glands and tumours

Ghrelin, the endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R), is a 28 amino acid peptide originally isolated from rat stomach that has been primarily involved in the central neuroregulation of GH secretion and food intake. Previous studies demonstrated that ghrelin has a widespread expression in different normal cells and tissues, as well as in gastric, thyroid, testicular, breast and lung neoplasias. In the current study, we use molecular biology to detect ghrelin transcripts expression in rats, and immunohistochemical techniques to investigate the cellular distribution of this peptide in rat and human thyroid and parathyroid glands and tumours. Ghrelin was localized in thyroid C cells and in parathyroid cells. Thyroid carcinomas (medullar, follicular and papillary) and parathyroid adenomas also showed intense and diffuse immunostaining for ghrelin. These data provide direct morphological evidence that ghrelin may well be acting in a paracrine fashion in the regulation of thyroid follicular cell function. The diffuse ghrelin immunostaining found in the parathyroid gland opens up the possibility of its secretion to the bloodstream or its involvement in the regulation of the parathyroid function. Overall, expression of ghrelin in human and rat thyroid and parathyroid glands is highly suggestive of a conserved role of this molecule in the regulation of thyroid and parathyroid cell function.