Ghrelin is suppressed by glucagon and does not mediate glucagon-related growth hormone release.

Background: Glucagon stimulation is routinely used as a provocative test to assess growth hormone (GH) sufficiency in pediatrics. Ghrelin also markedly stimulates GH secretion. Because glucagon stimulates the promoter of the ghrelin gene in vitro as well as ghrelin secretion by the perfused rat stomach, we sought to determine whether ghrelin mediates glucagon-induced GH secretion.