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Updated: Mar 22, 2026

Fat Preference: A Novel Model of Eating Behavior in Rats
Published on: June 27, 2014
Dissociating ghrelin-dependent G protein from β-arrestin-2 signaling in transgenic rats
1Department of Metabolism and Aging, Scripps Research Institute-Florida, 130 Scripps Way, #3B3, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA. rgsmith@scripps.edu.
Abstract:
The gut-derived hormone ghrelin regulates growth hormone release, appetite, metabolism, and immune function through its receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR1a). In this issue of Science Signaling, Chebani et al decode GHSR1a signaling by using transgenic rats with a mutation in GHSR1a that prevents its interaction with β-arrestin. These mutant rats are more responsive to endogenous ghrelin, resulting in increased fat deposition and insulin resistance without affecting food intake.
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