Growth Hormone Secretagogues Protect Mouse Cardiomyocytes from in vitro Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury through Regulation of Intracellular Calcium

Abstract

Through activation of GHS-R1a, ghrelin and hexarelin produced a positive inotropic effect on ischemic cardiomyocytes and protected them from I/R injury probably by protecting or recovering p-PLB (and therefore SR Ca(2+) content) to allow the maintenance or recovery of normal cardiac contractility. These observations provide supporting evidence for the potential therapeutic application of ghrelin and hexarelin in patients with cardiac I/R injury.