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Ghrelin is synthesized in X/A-like cells of the gastric mucosa, which plays an important role in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Although ghrelin secretion is known to be induced by neurotransmitters or hormones or by nutrient sensing in the ghrelin-secreting cells themselves, the mechanism of ghrelin secretion is not clearly understood. In the present study, we found that changing the extracellular glucose concentration from elevated (25 mM) to optimal (10 mM) caused an increase in the intracellular Ca^{2 +} concentration ([Ca^{2 +}]_i) in ghrelin-secreting mouse ghrelinoma 3-1 (MGN3-1) cells (n=32, P<0.01), whereas changing the glucose concentration from elevated to lowered (5 or 1 mM) had little effect on [Ca^{2 +}]_i increase. Overexpression of a closed form of an ATP-sensitive K⁺ (K_ATP) channel mutant suppressed the 10 mM glucose-induced [Ca^{2 +}]_i increase (n=8, P<0.01) and exocytotic events (n=6, P<0.01). We also found that a low concentration of a K_ATP channel opener, diazoxide, with 25 mM glucose induced [Ca^{2 +}]_i increase (n=23, P<0.01) and ghrelin secretion (n≥3, P<0.05). In contrast, the application of a low concentration of a K_ATP channel blocker, tolbutamide, significantly induced [Ca^{2 +}]_i increase (n=15, P<0.01) and ghrelin secretion (n≥3, P<0.05) under 5 mM glucose. Furthermore, the application of voltage-dependent Ca^{2 +} channel inhibitors suppressed the 10 mM glucose-induced [Ca^{2 +}]_i increase (n≥26, P<0.01) and ghrelin secretion (n≥5, P<0.05). These findings suggest that K_ATP and voltage-dependent Ca^{2 +} channels are involved in glucose-dependent ghrelin secretion in MGN3-1 cells.

The present study was conducted to investigate roles of ghrelin in glucose-induced insulin secretion in fasting- and meal-fed state in sheep. Castrated Suffolk rams were fed a maintenance diet of alfalfa hay cubes once a day. Hyperglycemic clamp (HGC) was carried out to examine glucose-induced insulin response from 48 to 53 h (fasting state) and from 3 to 8 h (meal-fed state) after feeding in Experiment 1 and 2 respectively. Total dose of 70 nmol/kg body weight of d-Lys3-GHRP6, a GH secretagogue receptor 1a (GHS-R1a) antagonist, was intravenously administered at 0, 60, and 120 min after the commencement of HGC. In the fasting state, the ghrelin antagonist significantly (P < 0.01) enhanced glucose-induced insulin secretion. In the meal-fed state, i.v. administration of synthetic ovine ghrelin (0.04 μ g/kg body weight per min during HGC) significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced glucose-induced insulin secretion. d-Lys3-GHRP6 treatment suppressed ghrelin-induced enhancement of the insulin secretion. In conclusion, ghrelin has an inhibitory and stimulatory role in glucose-induced insulin secretion via GHS-R1a in fasting- and meal-fed state respectively.

We previously reported that voluntary exercise contributed to the amelioration of abnormal feeding behavior with a concomitant restoration of ghrelin production in a rat model of obesity, suggesting a possible relationship between exercise and appetite-regulating hormones. Ghrelin is known to be involved in the brain reward circuits via dopamine neurons related to motivational properties. We investigated the relevance of ghrelin as an initiator of voluntary exercise as well as feeding behavior. The plasma ghrelin concentration fluctuates throughout the day with its peak at the beginning of the dark period in the wild-type (WT) mice with voluntary exercise. Although predominant increases in wheel running activity were observed accordant to the peak of plasma ghrelin concentration in the WT mice, those were severely attenuated in the ghrelin-knockout (GKO) mice under either ad libitum or time-restricted feeding. A single injection of ghrelin receptor agonist brought about and reproduced a marked enhancement of wheel running activity, in contrast to no effect by the continuous administration of the same drug. Brain dopamine levels (DAs) were enhanced after food consumption in the WT mice under voluntary exercise. Although the acceleration of DAs were apparently blunted in the GKO mice, they were dramatically revived after the administration of ghrelin receptor agonist, suggesting the relevance of ghrelin in the reward circuit under voluntary exercise. These findings emphasize that the surge of ghrelin plays a crucial role in the formation of motivation for the initiation of voluntary exercise possibly related to the central dopamine system.