Different effects of ghrelin, des-acyl ghrelin and obestatin on gastroduodenal motility in conscious rats

Three peptides, ghrelin, des-acyl ghrelin and obestatin are derived from a common prohormone, preproghre-lin by posttranslational processing, originating from endocrine cells in the stomach. To examine the effects of these peptides, we applied the manometric mea-surement of gastrointestinal motility in freely moving conscious rat models. Ghrelin exerts stimulatory ef-fects on the motility of antrum and duodenum in both fed and fasted state of animals. Des-acyl ghrelin exerts inhibitory effects on the motility of antrum, but not on the motility of duodenum in the fasted state of ani-mals. Obestatin exerts inhibitory effects on the motility of antrum and duodenum in the fed state, but not in the fasted state of animals. NPY Y2 or Y4 receptors in the brain may mediate the action of ghrelin, CRF type 2 receptors in the brain mediate the action of des-acyl ghrelin, whereas CRF type 1 and type 2 receptors in the brain mediate the action of obestatin. Vagal affer-ent pathways might be involved in the action of ghre-lin, but not involved in the action of des-acyl ghrelin, whereas vagal afferent pathways might be partially involved in the action of obestatin.