ghrelin
noun [ U ] biology specialized uk/ˈɡrel.ɪn/ us/ˈɡrel.ɪn/
（让人产生饥饿感的）脑肠肽，饥饿激素
a hormone (= a chemical made in the body) that makes you hungry
When ghrelin levels are up, people feel hungry. 当饥饿激素水平上升时，人们会感到饥饿。
In experiments, sleep-deprived adults produced more ghrelin. 在实验中，睡眠不足的成年人会产生更多的脑肠肽。
Compare: leptin
- More examples
- The more ghrelin in your stomach, the more you want to eat.
- Ghrelin is an appetite-stimulating hormone released mostly by the stomach.
- Ghrelin's potential hasn't escaped the attention of the pharmaceutical industry.