Study summary · research use only
Efficacy of ipamorelin, a novel ghrelin mimetic, in a rodent model of postoperative ileus
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
In this rat study, the authors investigated ipamorelin, a selective growth hormone secretagogue and ghrelin receptor agonist, in a rodent model of postoperative ileus. Fasted male rats underwent laparotomy and intestinal manipulation, and a dye marker in the proximal colon was used to evaluate postsurgical colonic transit time (time to first bowel movement); fecal pellet output, food intake, and body weight were monitored for 48 h. Ipamorelin (0.01-1 mg/kg), GHRP-6 (20 microg/kg), or vehicle were given intravenously after single or 2-day repetitive dosing. The abstract reports that a single dose of ipamorelin (1 mg/kg) or GHRP-6 (20 microg/kg) decreased time to first bowel movement but did not affect cumulative fecal output, food intake, or weight gain, whereas repetitive ipamorelin (0.1 or 1 mg/kg) significantly increased all three.
Abstract
Ghrelin and ghrelin mimetics stimulate appetite and enhance gastric motility. The present study investigates whether ipamorelin, a selective growth hormone secretagogue and agonist of the ghrelin receptor, would accelerate gastrointestinal transit and ameliorate the symptoms in a rodent model of postoperative ileus (POI). Fasted male rats were subjected to laparotomy and intestinal manipulation. At the end of surgery, a dye marker was infused in the proximal colon to evaluate postsurgical colonic transit time, which was the time to the first bowel movement. In addition, fecal pellet output, food intake, and body weight were monitored regularly for 48 h. Ipamorelin (0.01-1 mg/kg), growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP)-6 (20 microg/kg), or vehicle (saline) were administered via intravenous bolus infusion after a single dosing or a 2-day repetitive dosing regimen (four doses a day at 3-h intervals). Compared with the vehicle, a single dose of ipamorelin (1 mg/kg) or GHRP-6 (20 microg/kg) decreased the time to the first bowel movement but had no effect on cumulative fecal output, food intake, or body weight gain measured 48 h after the surgery. In contrast, repetitive dosing of ipamorelin (0.1 or 1 mg/kg) significantly increased the cumulative fecal pellet output, food intake, and body weight gain. The results suggest that postsurgical intravenous infusions of ipamorelin may ameliorate the symptoms in patients with POI.
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