What is the Origin of Selective Secretagogues?

The term combines 'selective' to denote specificity, and 'secretagogue,' derived from the Greek sekretos (secreted) and agogos (leading, inducing), meaning a substance that causes another substance to be secreted. This concept developed in endocrinology to describe agents like Growth Hormone Secretagogues (GHSs), which specifically target the pituitary to release Growth Hormone. The emphasis is on a more nuanced, regulatory approach compared to direct hormone replacement.

What is the Mechanism of Selective Secretagogues?

The mechanism involves the agent binding to a highly specific receptor subtype, such as the ghrelin receptor (GHSR-1a) in the case of GHSs, located on the hormone-producing cells. This binding initiates an intracellular signaling cascade, leading to the exocytosis of stored hormone granules. Crucially, the selectivity of the agent ensures that the stimulation is limited to the desired endocrine cell type, preserving the integrity and feedback control of adjacent hormonal systems.

Selective Secretagogues

Meaning

Selective secretagogues are a class of therapeutic agents designed to stimulate the release of a specific endogenous hormone from its storage or production site by selectively activating its corresponding receptor or pathway, without broadly affecting other endocrine axes. This targeted action allows for the precise, pulsatile, and often more physiological enhancement of a single hormone’s concentration. They are utilized to overcome age-related decline in natural hormone secretion with minimal off-target effects.