Cholecystokinin-8 stimulates adrenocorticotropin release from anterior pituitary cells

Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) stimulated adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) release from both rat anterior pituitary cells in culture and a tumor cell line of the mouse anterior pituitary (AtT-20/D16-16). The stimulation of ACTH release was dependent on the time of exposure to CCK-8 and the concentration of this peptide applied to anterior pituitary cells. Cerulein evoked ACTH release whereas human gastrin 1, CCK-4 and desulfated CCK-8 only produced minimal affects on ACTH release at concentrations of 10(-4) M. In contrast, these latter three peptides were as effective as CCK-8 in inducing the secretion of amylase from pancreatic acinar cells. Antagonists of CCK-8 receptors in the pancreas such as proglumide, benzotript and dibutyryl cyclic GMP did not affect the ACTH release response to CCK-8. The CCK-8 stimulation of ACTH release was calcium-dependent and blocked by glucocorticoid pretreatment. The mechanisms by which CCK-8 evoked ACTH release appears distinct from that of other ACTH secretagogues such as corticotropin releasing factor and vasopressin. The data suggest that CCK-8 is a corticotropin releasing factor-like agent acting through a putative novel receptor subtype in the anterior pituitary.