cDNA cloning of ghrelin and ontogeny of ghrelin mRNA expression in the gastrointestinal tract of African ostrich chicks

► The sequence and structure of ghrelin in the gastrointestinal tract of African ostrich chicks, results revealed that African ostrich ghrelin is composed of 28 amino acid residues and the sequence of the 7 amino acids of the N-terminal region of African ostrich ghrelin was identical with that of other birds. ► Ghrelin expression in the gastrointestinal tract of African ostrich chicks , the results showed that ghrelin mRNA existed in the proventriculus, gizzard, duodenum, ileum, cecum, and rectum; there was no expression in the jejunum and colon. ► The distribution of ghrelin mRNA in the gastrointestinal tract of African ostriches changes with age (from postnatal day 1 to day 90). Ghrelin may be involved in the development of the gastrointestinal tract.