Ghrelin, a growth hormone-releasing peptide first discovered in rat stomach in 1999, is a ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. It participates in the regulation of diverse processes, including energy balance and body weight maintenance, and appears to be beneficial for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In animal models of chronic heart failure, ghrelin improves cardiac function and remodeling; these findings have been recapitulated in human patients. In other animal models, ghrelin effectively diminishes pulmonary hypertension. Moreover, ghrelin administration early after myocardial infarction decreased the frequency of fatal arrhythmia and improved survival rate. In ghrelin-deficient mice, endogenous ghrelin protects against fatal arrhythmia and promotes remodeling after myocardial infarction. Although the mechanisms underlying the effects of ghrelin on the cardiovascular system have not been fully elucidated, its beneficial effects appear to be mediated through regulation of the autonomic nervous system. Ghrelin is a promising therapeutic agent for cardiac diseases.

中文翻译：

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生长激素释放肽在心血管系统中的生理学意义。

Ghrelin是一种生长激素释放肽，于1999年在大鼠胃部首次发现，是生长激素促分泌素受体的配体。它参与各种过程的调节，包括能量平衡和体重维持，并且似乎对心血管疾病的治疗有益。在慢性心力衰竭的动物模型中，生长素释放肽可改善心脏功能和重塑。这些发现已在人类患者中得到概括。在其他动物模型中，生长素释放肽有效地降低了肺动脉高压。此外，在心肌梗塞后早期施用生长素释放肽可以减少致命性心律失常的发生率并提高生存率。在生长素释放肽缺乏的小鼠中，内源性生长素释放肽可防止致命性心律失常并促进心肌梗塞后的重塑。尽管尚未完全阐明ghrelin对心血管系统影响的机制，但其有益作用似乎是通过调节自主神经系统来介导的。Ghrelin是一种有前途的心脏病治疗剂。