Molecular characterization of chicken ghrelin receptor superfamily in gut-intestinal tract system.

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Motilin and ghrelin are peptide hormones involved in gastrointestinal motility. GPR38, initially cloned as an orphan receptor, is now considered a specific receptor for motilin. Previously, molecular characterization of the motilin receptor had only been performed in mammalian and fish species. We cloned cDNA for chicken motilin receptor from the duodenum and characterized its primary structure, tissue distribution, and biological activity. Our data suggest that chicken motilin receptor is largely involved in gastrointestinal functions at pre- and post-hatch periods through an intracellular signaling pathway accompanied by an increase in Ca^<2+> levels.