ghrelin

Etymology

From acronym GHR (“growth hormone-releasing peptide”) +‎ -lin (“a common hormone suffix”), with a deliberate pun on both Proto-Indo-European *gʰreh₁- (“to grow”) and English growling.

Noun

ghrelin (usually uncountable, plural ghrelins)

1. (biochemistry) A peptide hormone, secreted in the stomach when empty, that increases appetite and secretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland. [Discovery published 1999.]
   • 1999 December 9, M Kojima, “Ghrelin is a growth-hormone-releasing acylated peptide from stomach”, in Nature, volume 402, page 656:

     We designate the GH-released peptide 'ghrelin' (ghre is the Proto-Indo-European root of the word 'grow').

   • 2005, Masayasu Kojima, Kenji Kangawa, Ghrelin, an Endogenous Ligand for the Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor, Fred Nyberg (editor), The Somatotrophic Axis in Brain Function, page 27,

     Both human and rat ghrelins are 28 amino acid peptides, in which Ser3 is modified by a fatty acid, primarily n-octanoic acid.

   • 2009, Hélène Volkoff, Saraj Unniappan, Scott P. Kelly, 9: The Endocrine Regulation of Food Intake, Nicholas J. Bernier, Glen Van Der Kraak, Anthony P. Farrell, Colin J. Brauner (editors), Fish Neuroendocrinology, [Fish Physiology, Volume 28], page 434,

     Ghrelin is a 28‐amino acid acylated peptide predominantly secreted by the stomach but also by the brain.

   • 2009, Michael F. Roizen, Mehmet Oz, YOU: On A Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management, Revised Edition, page 49,

     So when you increase ghrelin levels, you stimulate that growth hormone to kick in, and growth hormone builds you not only up but out as well.

     Your stomach secretes ghrelin in pulses every half hour, sending subtle chemical impulses to your brain—almost like subliminal biological messages (carrot cake, carrot cake, carrot cake).

   • 2011, Palmiero Monteleone, New Frontiers of Endocrinology in Eating Disorders, Roger A.H. Adan, Walter H. Kaye (editors), Behavioral Neurobiology of Eating Disorders, page 194,

     Currently, ghrelin is considered as a “hunger hormone” that signals the brain the need to initiate food consumption.

See also

• leptin
• obestatin

Anagrams

• herling