Adrenal Corticotropic Hormone

Studies have shown that, in addition to the conventional peptide hormones of pancreatic islets (insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide), these tumors can also secrete (and express) ectopic peptides, in particular gastrin and VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide),but on occasion also ACTH (adrenal corticotropic hormone),antidiuretic hormone (ADH), MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone), calcitonin, neurotensin, secretoneurin, 754-356 PTH (parathyroid hormone-like peptide),growth hormone and growth hormone releasing factor, secretogranin inhibin/activin, i prohormone... 

Adrenal Corticotropic Hormone (ACTH) (also called / -corticotropin) is a peptide hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, which in turn act on a number of tissues (Figure 23.8). 

Most pituitary hormones act on endocrine glands that occupy an intermediate, or secondary, position in the hierarchy, stimulating them to produce hormones that exert the ultimate actions on target tissues. Pituitary hormones that act on other endocrine glands are called tropic hormones or tropins. An example is adrenal corticotropic hormone (ACTH), also called / -corticotropin (see here also). This peptide is secreted from the anterior pituitary, and it stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, which in turn act on a number of tissues. 

ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone, corticotropin) is a 39-amino-acid peptide synthesized and secreted by the corticotrope cells of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. ACTH acts on several target tissues, including the adrenal cortex, adipose tissue and brain. It is synthesized as part of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) as amino acids 132-170 of this molecule, which is proteolytically cleaved to produce ACTH [1],... 

ACTH adrenocorticoh ophic hormone is a peptide hormone released by anterior pituitary cells in response to shessful stimuli that causes the synthesis and release of cortisol (corticosteroid) from the adrenal cortex. It is an important component of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. ACTH is released from pro-opiomelanocortin and secreted from corticotropes in response to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) released by the hypothalamus. 

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