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Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptors

Meaning

Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptors, commonly known as GHS-Rs, are specific G-protein coupled receptors found primarily in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, but also in other tissues throughout the body. These receptors are the molecular targets for endogenous ligands, such as ghrelin, and synthetic compounds called Growth Hormone Secretagogues (GHSs). Activation of these receptors is the key biological trigger for stimulating the pulsatile release of Growth Hormone (GH) from the somatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary.