ACTH on growth and metabolism

ACTH is directly anti-mitogenic for adrenocortical cells, but indirectly stimulates the hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex (reviewed in Ref. 29). Although the mechanism of the indirect stimulation of proliferation of adrenocortical cells by ACTH is not known it appears to be mediated by cyclic AMP [29], A plausible model for this indirect growth stimulation is that ACTH stimulates the growth 

ACTH has several other effects on adrenocortical cell metabolism. It increases the synthesis of adrenocortical cell phospholipids this may also have a long-term supportive role for increased steroidogenic capacity. It increases the rate of glycolysis in the adrenocortical cell this may have a supportive role in the supply of pyruvate for the mitochondrial steroid hydroxylases [32], 

Interactions of the ACTH cyclic AMP system with other hormones and intracellular messengers 

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