Abstract
The role of Ghrelin, also known as the appetite hormone, is not fully explained in the development of morbid obesity. Plasma Ghrelin level is low in obese and high in slim subjects. Ghrelin-expressing cells were investigated histopathologically in the stomach of morbid obese patients in this study. Tissue Ghrelin expression was also compared with various parameters such as the distribution of endocrine cells, age, gender, body mass index, preoperative plasma Ghrelin level and presence of accompanying diseases. The study included 33 morbidly obese patients, and 8 non-obese control patients. Plasma Ghrelin levels were measured preoperatively. Sleeve gastrectomy resection materials of 33 cases were evaluated with histopathological and immunohistochemical (Ghrelin and Chromogranin-A) techniques. The results were statistically evaluated by nonparametric tests. Histopathological findings observed in sleeve gastrectomy resection materials were interstitial lymphocytic infiltration (63.6%), hyperplasia of lymphoid follicles in the lamina propria (60.7%) and microvesiculation / dilatation of parietal cells (57.6%). The number of Ghrelin immunopositive cells in the gastric mucosa in females was significantly higher compared to males (p=0,007). Additionally, the number of Ghrelin immunopositive cells was significantly higher at the fundus-proximal corpus compared to the distal corpus of the stomach (p=0.0001). No significant correlation was found between Ghrelin-chromogranin immunopositive endocrine cell distribution and preoperative plasma Ghrelin levels and endocrine cell hyperplasia. Our study confirms that Ghrelin producing cells are most dense in the proximal stomach. Increased number of Ghrelin expressing cells in the gastric mucosa in females compared to males suggests that gender may also be a factor in determining the method for treatment of morbid obesity.
Highlights
Morbid obesity defines a severe obesity that is lifethreatening and shortens the person’s life where the body mass index (BMI) is over 40
The number of Ghrelin immunopositive cells in the gastric mucosa in females was significantly higher compared to males (p=0,007)
No significant correlation was found between Ghrelin-chromogranin immunopositive endocrine cell distribution and preoperative plasma Ghrelin levels and endocrine cell hyperplasia
Summary
Morbid obesity defines a severe obesity that is lifethreatening and shortens the person’s life where the body mass index (BMI) is over 40. The most important factor responsible for the development of morbid obesity is the energy balance being distorted in favor of food intake and storage [1]. Ghrelin, which is known as the appetite hormone, was discovered by the Japanese scientist Masayasu Kojima in 1999 and is a molecule acting on many systems and thought to have an important role in the development of obesity [2,3]. How the hormone ghrelin affects the development of morbid obesity is not yet known. The aim of this study was to determine the histopathological changes seen in the stomach in morbid obesity, to evaluate the distribution of endocrine cells and ghrelin expressing cells in the stomach of these patients, and to examine the relationship between the plasma ghrelin levels and ghrelin immunoreactive cell density
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
