Differential orexigenic effects of hexarelin and its analogs in the rat hypothalamus: indication for multiple growth hormone secretagogue receptor subtypes.

Torsello A, Locatelli V, Melis MR, Succu S, Spano MS, Deghenghi R, Müller EE, Argiolas A

Neuroendocrinology1 Dec 2000Cited by 35 (Europe PMC)

PMID11146415DOI10.1159/000054601PepBankPUB-11146415

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study6

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats, hexarelin injected into the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus increased food intake.
In plain wordsIn rats, hexarelin injected into one brain area increased food intake.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
IncreaseFood intake after arcuate nucleus injection
Study
ratn: not reported in source
rat hypothalamus, site-specific injection
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2 microg/rat · intrahypothalamic injectionAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Hexarelin, EP 40904 and EP 50885 had significant orexigenic effects after injection into the ARC.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To better characterize the site(s) and mechanisms(s) of the orexigenic action of GHRPs, we have investigated their effects after infusion into the arcuate, paraventricular, ventromedial and medial preoptic areas of the hypothalamus.
Summary · context
Food intake was measured for 60 min following injection of the test compound (2 microg/rat).
Report a problemFND-1114641501
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats, hexarelin injected into the paraventricular nucleus did not increase food intake; only EP 50885 did.
In plain wordsIn rats, hexarelin injected into this brain area did not increase food intake.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
No significant changeFood intake after paraventricular nucleus injection
Study
ratn: not reported in source
rat hypothalamus, site-specific injection
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2 microg/rat · intrahypothalamic injectionAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
In the paraventricular nucleus, only EP 50885 stimulated feeding
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To better characterize the site(s) and mechanisms(s) of the orexigenic action of GHRPs, we have investigated their effects after infusion into the arcuate, paraventricular, ventromedial and medial preoptic areas of the hypothalamus.
Summary · context
Food intake was measured for 60 min following injection of the test compound (2 microg/rat).
Report a problemFND-1114641504
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats, hexarelin injected into the ventromedial nucleus did not increase food intake.
In plain wordsIn rats, hexarelin injected into this brain area did not increase food intake.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
No significant changeFood intake after ventromedial nucleus injection
Study
ratn: not reported in source
rat hypothalamus, site-specific injection
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2 microg/rat · intrahypothalamic injectionAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
all peptides were ineffective in the ventromedial nucleus and medial preoptic area.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To better characterize the site(s) and mechanisms(s) of the orexigenic action of GHRPs, we have investigated their effects after infusion into the arcuate, paraventricular, ventromedial and medial preoptic areas of the hypothalamus.
Summary · context
Food intake was measured for 60 min following injection of the test compound (2 microg/rat).
Report a problemFND-1114641505
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats, hexarelin injected into the medial preoptic area did not increase food intake.
In plain wordsIn rats, hexarelin injected into this brain area did not increase food intake.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
No significant changeFood intake after medial preoptic area injection
Study
ratn: not reported in source
rat hypothalamus, site-specific injection
Outcome group
Appetite and food intake · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
2 microg/rat · intrahypothalamic injectionAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
all peptides were ineffective in the ventromedial nucleus and medial preoptic area.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To better characterize the site(s) and mechanisms(s) of the orexigenic action of GHRPs, we have investigated their effects after infusion into the arcuate, paraventricular, ventromedial and medial preoptic areas of the hypothalamus.
Summary · context
Food intake was measured for 60 min following injection of the test compound (2 microg/rat).
Report a problemFND-1114641506

Studies that did not test the peptide alone2

In this study, Hexarelin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Hexarelin.

05AnimalNot a test of Hexarelin aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats, a specific NPY antagonist significantly inhibited the orexigenic effect of hexarelin.
In plain wordsIn rats, blocking NPY reduced the extra eating caused by hexarelin.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
DecreaseHexarelin-induced food intake with NPY antagonist
Study
ratn: not reported in source
rat hypothalamus, site-specific injection
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Metabolic and weight
Source sentences
Summary
A specific NPY antagonist significantly inhibited the effect of hexarelin
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To better characterize the site(s) and mechanisms(s) of the orexigenic action of GHRPs, we have investigated their effects after infusion into the arcuate, paraventricular, ventromedial and medial preoptic areas of the hypothalamus.
Summary · context
Food intake was measured for 60 min following injection of the test compound (2 microg/rat).
In this study, Hexarelin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Hexarelin.
Report a problemFND-1114641502
06AnimalNot a test of Hexarelin aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats, a GHRH antagonist did not block the orexigenic effect of hexarelin.
In plain wordsIn rats, blocking GHRH did not stop the extra eating caused by hexarelin.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
No significant changeHexarelin-induced food intake with GHRH antagonist
Study
ratn: not reported in source
rat hypothalamus, site-specific injection
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Metabolic and weight
Source sentences
Summary
A specific NPY antagonist significantly inhibited the effect of hexarelin, whereas a GHRH antagonist was ineffective.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To better characterize the site(s) and mechanisms(s) of the orexigenic action of GHRPs, we have investigated their effects after infusion into the arcuate, paraventricular, ventromedial and medial preoptic areas of the hypothalamus.
Summary · context
Food intake was measured for 60 min following injection of the test compound (2 microg/rat).
In this study, Hexarelin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Hexarelin.
Report a problemFND-1114641503

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 21:44 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
13 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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