Extrapituitary effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone and thyrotropin-releasing hormone

Besides their regulation of the pituitary-adrenal and pituitary-thyroidal axis, respectively, the neurohormones CRH and TRH act within the central nervous system to evoke and modulate a number of behavioral and physiological processes. In particular, an increase in the sympathetic nervous system and respiratory activity has been observed. The data communicated in this review article emphasize the role of these neurohormones with regard to the neuroendocrine regulation of the autonomic nervous system, sleep and cognitive performance. Moreover, a possible therapeutic role is suggested by the beneficial effects in patients at risk of hypoventilation-associated disorders.