RESUMO
UNLABELLED: Ghrelin, orexins A and B (OXA, OXB) are neuropeptides engaged in the regulation of energy balance stimulating appetite and feeding. Disturbances in their activity are proposed to be involved in pathomechanism of eating disorders, particularly in anorexia nervosa (AN). The intracellular mechanism of the peptides action remains unclear. It is considered whether the orexigenic peptides may act through second messengers related to phospholipase D (PLD). The aim of the study was to find a hypothetical relation between ghrelin, OXA and OXB levels and human platelets PLD activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 25 AN females and 20 healthy controls (mean age 17.6 and 18.6, mean BMI 15.03 and 21.41 kg/m(2), respectively) were examined. OXA and OXB plasma levels and total ghrelin plasma level was determinated with RIA. PLD activity in homogenized blood platelets was assessed with modified fluorometric method. All values are presented as the mean values. The data were analyzed using Student-t test, non-parametric U-Mann-Whitney test and Spearman correlation. The p < 0.05 was accepted as the level of significance. RESULTS: There is a correlation between analyzed neuropeptides and PLD in AN patients. CONCLUSION: In AN patients it is not possible to exclude influence orexins and ghrelin on platelet PLD activity.