Effect of exogenous ghrelin on body weight and hematocrit of male adult rats in chronic Hypoxia

Mohammad Reza Alipour; Hadi Feizi; Gisou Mohaddes; Rana Keyhanmanesh; Saeed Khamnei; Khalil Ansarin; Hadi Ebrahimi

International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism

Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences

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Effect of exogenous ghrelin on body weight and hematocrit of male adult rats in chronic Hypoxia

Author(s):

Mohammad Reza Alipour¹,

Hadi Feizi^2,*,

Gisou Mohaddes³,

Rana Keyhanmanesh¹,

Saeed Khamnei⁴,

Khalil Ansarin¹,

Hadi Ebrahimi³

1Tuberculosis and Lung Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran

2Department of Physiology, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, bandar Abbas, IR Iran

3Department of Physiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran

4Medical Faculty, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, IR Iran

International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism:Vol. 8, issue 4; 201-205

Published online:Oct 31, 2010

Article type:Research Article

Received:Sep 12, 2010

Accepted:Jan 01, 2011

How to Cite:Mohammad Reza AlipourHadi FeiziGisou MohaddesRana KeyhanmaneshSaeed KhamneiKhalil AnsarinHadi Ebrahimiet al.Effect of exogenous ghrelin on body weight and hematocrit of male adult rats in chronic Hypoxia.Int J Endocrinol Metab.8(4):201-205.

Abstract

Background: Ghrelin is a peptide predominantly produced by the stomach. Recent studies have shown its protective roles and plasma alterations during hypoxia.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of an exogenous administration of ghrelin on body weight and blood hematocrit during chronic hypoxia.

Materials and Methods: Twenty four adult male Wistar rats were divided randomly into 3 groups. Hypoxic rats with saline or ghrelin treatment were placed in a normobaric hypoxic chamber for 2 weeks. Controls remained in room air. Weight gain, hematocrit, and plasma ghrelin were measured.

Results: The rats showed significant (P < 0.05) weight loss in the hypoxic groups, and administration of ghrelin in hypoxic rats could prevent further weight loss. Interestingly, hypoxic animals that were treated with ghrelin were significantly more polycythemic than the controls and even the hypoxic rats treated with saline (P < 0.001). Plasma ghrelin significantly increased in the hypoxic animals at the end of the second week (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: It seems that exogenous administration of ghrelin may be useful in modulating metabolism in high-altitude situations and that polycythemia induced by ghrelin, to some extent, might be a beneficial compensation during hypoxia. However, more investigation is needed to confirm the beneficial effects of ghrelin to establish this peptide’s status as a therapeutic agent.

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