TY - JOUR
T1 - Ghrelin's role in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis stress response
T2 - Implications for mood disorders
AU - Spencer, Sarah J.
AU - Emmerzaal, Tim L.
AU - Kozicz, Tamas
AU - Andrews, Zane B.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Society of Biological Psychiatry.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Ghrelin is a stomach hormone normally associated with feeding behavior and energy homeostasis. Recent studies highlight that ghrelin targets the brain to regulate a diverse number of functions, including learning, memory, motivation, stress responses, anxiety, and mood. In this review, we discuss recent animal and human studies showing that ghrelin regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and affects anxiety and mood disorders, such as depression and fear. We address the neural sites of action through which ghrelin regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and associated stress-induced behaviors, including the centrally projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus, the hippocampus, amygdala, locus coeruleus, and the ventral tegmental area. Stressors modulate many behaviors associated with motivation, fear, anxiety, depression, and appetite; therefore, we assess the potential role for ghrelin as a stress feedback signal that regulates these associated behaviors. Finally, we briefly discuss important areas for future research that will help us move closer to potential ghrelin-based therapies to treat stress responses and related disorders.
AB - Ghrelin is a stomach hormone normally associated with feeding behavior and energy homeostasis. Recent studies highlight that ghrelin targets the brain to regulate a diverse number of functions, including learning, memory, motivation, stress responses, anxiety, and mood. In this review, we discuss recent animal and human studies showing that ghrelin regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and affects anxiety and mood disorders, such as depression and fear. We address the neural sites of action through which ghrelin regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and associated stress-induced behaviors, including the centrally projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus, the hippocampus, amygdala, locus coeruleus, and the ventral tegmental area. Stressors modulate many behaviors associated with motivation, fear, anxiety, depression, and appetite; therefore, we assess the potential role for ghrelin as a stress feedback signal that regulates these associated behaviors. Finally, we briefly discuss important areas for future research that will help us move closer to potential ghrelin-based therapies to treat stress responses and related disorders.
KW - Centrally projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus
KW - Depression
KW - Ghrelin
KW - Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
KW - Paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus
KW - Pituitary
KW - Stress
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84942984855&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.10.021
DO - 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.10.021
M3 - Review article
C2 - 25534754
AN - SCOPUS:84942984855
SN - 0006-3223
VL - 78
SP - 19
EP - 27
JO - Biological psychiatry
JF - Biological psychiatry
IS - 1
ER -