Ghrelin stimulates angiogenesis via GHSR1a-dependent MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signal pathways in rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells

► Ghrelin stimulates angiogenesis in rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells. ► MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signal pathways are involved in ghrelin-induced angiogenesis. ► GHSR1a mediates ghrelin activation of ERK, Akt, and in vitro angiogenesis. ► Ghrelin may play an important role in myocardial angiogenesis.