Ghrelin Amplifies the Nicotine-Induced Release of Dopamine in the Bed Nucleus of Stria Terminalis (BNST).

Ayman J, Palotai M, Dochnal R, Bagosi Z

Biomedicines4 Sept 2023Cited by 2 (Europe PMC)

PMID37760897PMCIDPMC10525377DOI10.3390/biomedicines11092456PepBankPUB-37760897

Summary

Ghrelin is an orexigenic neuropeptide that is known for stimulating the release of growth hormone (GH) and appetite. In addition, ghrelin has been implicated in addiction to drugs such as nicotine. Nicotine is the principal psychoactive component in tobacco and is responsible for the reward sensation produced by smoking. In our previous in vitro superfusion studies, it was demonstrated that ghrelin and nicotine stimulate equally the dopamine release in the rat amygdala, and ghrelin amplifies the nicotine-induced dopamine release in the rat striatum. However, less attention was paid to the actions of ghrelin and nicotine in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). Therefore, in the present study, nicotine and ghrelin were superfused to the BNST of male Wistar rats, and the dopamine release from the BNST was measured in vitro. In order to determine which receptors mediate these effects, mecamylamine, a non-selective nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) antagonist, and GHRP-6, a selective growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1A) antagonist, were also superfused to the rat BNST. Nicotine significantly increased the release of dopamine, and this effect was significantly inhibited by mecamylamine. Ghrelin increased dopamine release even more significantly than nicotine did, and this effect was significantly inhibited by GHRP-6. Moreover, when administered together, ghrelin significantly amplified the nicotine-induced release of dopamine in the BNST, and this additive effect was reversed partly by mecamylamine and partly by GHRP-6. Therefore, the present study provides a new base of evidence for the involvement of ghrelin in dopamine signaling implicated in nicotine addiction.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study2

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

01LabEx vivo tissueMechanism
In rat BNST tissue, GHRP‑6 significantly inhibited ghrelin-induced dopamine release.
In plain wordsIn lab tests on rat brain tissue, GHRP‑6 reduced ghrelin-induced dopamine release compared with ghrelin alone.
Peptide
GHRP-6
Outcome
DecreaseGhrelin-induced dopamine release
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Male Wistar rat BNST
Comparator
Ghrelin without GHRP-6
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · superfusionAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Ghrelin increased dopamine release even more significantly than nicotine did, and this effect was significantly inhibited by GHRP-6.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Therefore, in the present study, nicotine and ghrelin were superfused to the BNST of male Wistar rats, and the dopamine release from the BNST was measured in vitro.
Summary · context
In order to determine which receptors mediate these effects, mecamylamine, a non-selective nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) antagonist, and GHRP-6, a selective growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1A) antagonist, were also superfused to the rat BNST.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3776089701
02LabEx vivo tissueMechanism
In rat BNST tissue, GHRP‑6 partly reversed ghrelin amplification of nicotine-induced dopamine release.
In plain wordsIn lab tests on rat brain tissue, GHRP‑6 partly reduced dopamine release compared with ghrelin plus nicotine without GHRP‑6.
Peptide
GHRP-6
Outcome
DecreaseGhrelin amplification of nicotine-induced dopamine release
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Male Wistar rat BNST
Comparator
Ghrelin plus nicotine without GHRP-6
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · superfusionAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Moreover, when administered together, ghrelin significantly amplified the nicotine-induced release of dopamine in the BNST, and this additive effect was reversed partly by mecamylamine and partly by GHRP-6.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Therefore, in the present study, nicotine and ghrelin were superfused to the BNST of male Wistar rats, and the dopamine release from the BNST was measured in vitro.
Summary · context
In order to determine which receptors mediate these effects, mecamylamine, a non-selective nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) antagonist, and GHRP-6, a selective growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1A) antagonist, were also superfused to the rat BNST.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3776089702

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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
21 Oct 2026, 15:58 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:13 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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