GH secretagogues (GHSs) elicit a variety of biological effects in several endocrine and non-endocrine target tIssues, including activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The latter is mainly carried out through a central hypothalamic action; yet the possibility of additional effects directly at the adrenal level cannot be ruled out. The aims of this study were to evaluate the expression and homologous regulation of the GHS-receptor (GHS-R) gene in rat adrenal and to assess the effects of synthetic (GH releasing peptide-6 - GHRP-6) and natural (ghrelin) ligands of GHS-R upon basal and ACTH-stimulated corticosterone secretion in vitro.