Corticotropin-releasing hormone functions

Wong ML, Kling MA, Munson PJ, Listwak S, Licinio J, Prolo P et al. Pronounced and sustained central hypernor-adrenergic function in major depression with melancholic features relation to hy-percortisolism and corticotropin-releasing hormone. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2000 97 325-330. 

Coste SC, Kesterson RA, Heldwein KA, Stevens SL, Heard AD, Hollis JH, Murray SE, HUl JK, Pantely GA, Hohimer AR, Hatton DC, Phillips TJ, Pinn DA, Low MJ, Rittenberg MB, Stenzel P, Stenzel-Poore MP (2000) Abnormal adaptations to stress and impaired cardiovascular function in mice lacking corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor-2. Nat Genet 24 403-409... 

For complete functional evaluation of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal-adrenal axis one can use synthetic corticorelin (corticotropin-releasing hormone), which is available in both human (hCRH) and ovine (oCRH) forms (1). 

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in bipolar disorder has been reviewed, but lithium was mentioned only in passing (617). Two studies (n = 25, n = 24), possibly reporting many of the same patients, showed that lithium augmentation of antidepressant-resistant unipolar depression increased hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, measured by the dexamethasone suppression test, either alone or combined with the corticotropin releasing hormone test (618,619). However, the tests did not distinguish between lithium responders and nonresponders. 

Corticotropin (corticotrophin adrenocorticotrophin ACTH) is a straight-chain polypeptide with39 amino acid residues, and its function is to control the activity of the adrenal cortex, particularly the production of corticosteroids. Secretion of the hormone is controlled by corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus. ACTH was formerly used as an alternative to corticosteroid therapy in rheumatoid arthritis, but its value was limited by variable therapeutic response. ACTH may be used to test adrenocortical function. It has mainly been replaced for this purpose by the synthetic analoguetetracosactide (tetracosactrin) (Figure 7.10), which contains the first 24 amino acid residues of ACTH, and is preferred because of its shorter duration of action and lower allergenicity. 

Gysliiig K, Forray MI, Haeger P, Daza C, Rojas R (2004) Corticotropin-releasing hormone and urocortin Redundant or distinctive functions Brain Res Brain Res Rev 47 116—125. 

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a 41-amino-acid polypeptide produced in the parvicellular neurons of the paraventricular nucleus and released into the hypophyseal portal system in the median eminence. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH, AVP) is also synthesized and released by the same neurons, but in humans, unlike the situation in rats, the amount of ADH released at the median eminence is too small to influence the function of the... 

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