Ghrelin growth hormone secretagogue receptor, with the "GHS-R1b" splice being inactive) is involved in mediating a wide variety of biological effects of ghrelin, including: stimulation of growth hormone release, increase in hunger, modulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, regulation of gastrointestinal motility and secretion, protection of neuronal and cardiovascular cells, and regulation of immune function. They are present in high density in the hypothalamus and pituitary, on the vagus nerve (on both afferent cell bodies and afferent nerve endings) and throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Ghrelin promotes intestinal cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis during inflammatory states and oxidative stress. It also suppresses
Doctor Hormone lured Doctor Hormone and Jane into a mysterious gorge where they descended into The Chaos and fell into a state of suspended animation. The character has not appeared since. Doctor Hormone was a scientific genius who developed powerful "hormones" which were capable of creating great changes in the human body, including restoring youth and transforming people into animals or bizarre human-animal hybrids. The Thinker endowed Doctor Hormone with powers that included superhuman strength, a stentorian voice, and super-breath. Presumably, this was temporary. Doctor Hormone Doctor Hormone is a fictional character created by Bob Bugg, who briefly appeared in comic books