Ghrelin, a newly identified endogenous
ligand for
growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR-1a, i.e.,
ghrelin receptor), was recently demonstrated to be a potent vasoactive
peptide. Although
sepsis is characterized by an early, hyperdynamic phase, it remains unknown whether
ghrelin or GHSR-1a plays a role in the cardiovascular response to
sepsis. To determine this, polymicrobial
sepsis was induced by cecal
ligation and
puncture in male adult rats. At 5 h (i.e., early
sepsis) or 20 h (i.e., late
sepsis) after cecal
ligation and
puncture, blood and tissue samples were collected.
Ghrelin levels and
ghrelin and GHSR-1a
mRNA expression were assessed by RIA and RT-PCR, respectively. In addition, GHSR-1a
protein levels in aorta, heart, and small intestine were determined by Western blotting. The vascular response to
ghrelin was determined by using an isolated gut preparation. A primary rat aortic smooth muscle cell culture was used to determine the effects of LPS on GHSR-1a expression. The results indicate that although
ghrelin levels decreased at early and late
sepsis, its receptor was markedly elevated in early
sepsis. Moreover,
ghrelin-induced relaxation in resistance blood vessels of the isolated small intestine increased significantly during early
sepsis but was not altered in late
sepsis. Furthermore, GHSR-1a expression in smooth muscle cells was significantly increased at
mRNA and
protein levels with stimulation by LPS
at 10 ng/ml. These results demonstrate that GHSR-1a expression is upregulated and vascular sensitivity to
ghrelin stimulation is increased in the hyperdynamic phase of
sepsis.