Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Corticotrophs and peptides.

J Schwartz1, S Revskoy, E Redei

  • 1Department of Physiology, University of Adelaide, Australia. jeff.schwartz@adelaide.edu.au

Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry
|April 6, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Corticotrophs are dynamic cells, not static. They secrete various proopiomelanocortin (POMC) derivatives with distinct biological activities, showing functional heterogeneity and plasticity in response to hypothalamic and local pituitary factors.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Dysregulation of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Male and Female, Genetically Obese (ob/ob) Mice.

Journal of neuroendocrinology·2011
Same author

Sexually dimorphic effects of alcohol exposure in utero on neuroendocrine and immune functions in chronic alcohol-exposed adult rats.

Molecular and cellular neurosciences·2009
Same author

Prepro-thyrotropin-releasing hormone 178-199 increases sensitivity of AtT-20 cells to dexamethasone.

The Journal of endocrinology·2001
Same author

Altered hormone levels and circadian rhythm of activity in the WKY rat, a putative animal model of depression.

American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology·2001
Same author

Decreased in vitro sensitivity to dexamethasone in corticotropes from middle-age rats.

Experimental gerontology·2000
Same author

Sleep in the Wistar-Kyoto rat, a putative genetic animal model for depression.

Neuroreport·2000

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cell Biology
  • Neuroendocrinology

Background:

  • Corticotrophs were traditionally viewed as a uniform cell population.
  • Recent findings reveal corticotrophs are dynamic and heterogeneous.
  • Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and its derivatives have diverse biological roles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To challenge the traditional view of corticotrophs.
  • To highlight the complexity and heterogeneity of corticotroph function.
  • To explore the diverse biological activities of POMC derivatives.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated secretion of POMC and its cleavage products.
  • Assessed biological activity of POMC derivatives on adrenal cells.
  • Examined functional heterogeneity in response to hypothalamic and peripheral factors.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Studied plasticity in corticotroph responses during gestation in fetal sheep.
  • Evaluated effects of local pituitary factors like leukaemia inhibitory factor, urocortin, and preproTRH(178-199).

    • Main Results:

    • POMC and its intermediates are secreted and possess biological activity.
    • POMC derivatives antagonize ACTH(1-39) and are mitogenic to adrenocortical cells.
    • Corticotrophs exhibit functional heterogeneity in sensitivity to CRH, vasopressin, and glucocorticoids.
    • Functional plasticity observed in corticotroph responses during gestation.
    • Local pituitary factors modulate corticotroph function.

    Conclusions:

    • Corticotrophs represent a complex and heterogeneous cell population.
    • POMC derivatives play significant roles beyond ACTH secretion.
    • Corticotroph function is plastic and influenced by local pituitary factors.