Ghrelin and cardiovascular health

Ghrelin and its receptor are widely distributed in cardiovascular tissues, and there is no doubt that the effects of ghrelin in the cardiovascular system are mediated not only via its growth-hormone-releasing effect but also by direct effects on the heart. Indeed, new pharmacological approaches with animal and cell models using elegant study designs have described new functions of ghrelin, providing new potential therapeutic opportunities for ghrelin in cardiovascular medicine.