Research

Aim
We have particular experience in administering ghrelin to human subjects, initially investigating its effects on the growth hormone axis and more recently, its important effects on carbohydrate metabolism in man, including effects to reduce insulin secretion and cause hyperglycaemia.   In this proejct we will be responsible for the human in vivo studies aimed to a) clarify ghrelin secretion and its neuroendocrine and metabolic actions as function of age, gender, endocrine status, nutritional balance and peripheral insulin sensitivity; b) clarify whether synthetic ghrelin agonists and antagonists could represent candidate drugs for treatment of endocrine conditions connoted by alterations in insulin secretion and sensitivity; c) look for the existence of functional and organic conditions of altered ghrelin sensitivity in order to clarify its genetic profile in collaborations with other units focusing on genetics.