Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 1, 2026

Bovine Ovarian Cortex Tissue Culture
Published on: January 14, 2021
Urocortin
1Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, WC1N 1EH, London, UK. d.latchman@ich.ucl.ac.uk
Abstract:
Urocortin (Ucn) is a 40 amino acid peptide which is closely related to corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF). It is expressed in specific regions of the brain but is also detectable in other organs notably the heart. Although some of the effects of Ucn in the nervous system such as enhanced anxiety and activity mimic those of CRF, Ucn is a much more potent suppressor of appetite/feeding behaviour. Moreover, Ucn has much more potent effects on the cardiovascular system than CRF, including enhanced cardiac contractility/heart rate and enhanced resistance of cardiac cells to injury induced, for example, by ischaemia/reperfusion. This suggests Ucn may play a key role in the response of the cardiovascular system to stress. In addition, Ucn represents a novel cardioprotective agent which may be of therapeutic use in treating the damaging effects of cardiac ischaemia and subsequent reperfusion.
Related Concept Videos
Renal Corpuscle
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous capillaries...
Ureters
Regulation of Hormone Secretion
Humoral stimuli,...
Urinary Bladder
In males, the bladder is situated in front of the rectum, while in females, it is positioned anterior to the vagina and uterus. The bladder floor contains an inverted triangular area called the trigone, defined by the two ureteric...
Physiology of Urine Formation
Glomerular Filtration
The first stage in urine formation is glomerular filtration. Each kidney contains approximately 1 million nephrons, the functional units of filtration, with a...
Hormones of the Adrenal Glands
The adrenal cortex, a powerhouse of hormone synthesis, generates over two dozen corticosteroid hormones. The zona glomerulosa produces mineralocorticoids, exemplified by aldosterone, influencing the electrolyte composition of body fluids. The synthesis of glucocorticoids such as cortisol and corticosterone...
