Adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion, regulation

Wotjak CT, Kubota M, Liebsch G, Montkowski A, Holsboer F, Neumann I, Landgraf R (1996) Release of vasopressin within the rat paraventricular nucleus in response to emotional stress a novel mechanism of regulating adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion J Neu-rosci 16 7725-7732... 

A trophic hormone acts on another endocrine gland to stimulate secretion of its hormone. For example, thyrotropin, or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), stimulates the secretion of thyroid hormones. Adrenocorticotropin, or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete the hormone cortisol. Both trophic hormones are produced by the pituitary gland in fact, many trophic hormones are secreted by the pituitary. The pituitary gland is sometimes referred to as the "master gland" because its hormones regulate the activity of other endocrine glands. 

The regulation of glucocorticoid secretion is accomplished by the pituitary hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Under normal conditions, ACTH is released from the anterior pituitary in response to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which is secreted by the median eminence of the hypothalamus (Fig. 74—3). 

FIGURE 74-3. Negative feedback system involved in the regulation of cortisol secretion under normal conditions. CRH, corticotropin-releasing hormone ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone. 

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