Anterior pituitary corticotrope cells

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 is a 39-amino acids polypeptide hormone cleaved from a precursor peptide called pro-opiomelanocortin, which is released from corticotrope cells of the anterior pituitary gland. ACTH acts through the stimulation of cell surface ACTH receptors, which are primarily located on the adrenocortical cells, ft... 

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. 

ACTH is a polypeptide hormone with 39 ammo acids and an MW of 4500 that is produced by the corticotropic cells of the anterior pituitary gland (see Chapter 50). In 1928 a patient was described having a small ceU carcinoma of the lung who had the signs and symptoms of what is now known to be cortisol excess. A small number of these carcinomas can produce pro-ACTH, the precursor to ACTH. This precursor has an MW of 22,000, a 5% bioactivity, and most of the immunoactivity of ACTH. Traditional RIA measures both the precursor and the hormone. One immunometric assay in use is specific for ACTH. 

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