[Progress in the study of the central ACTH receptors]

In addition to pituitary gland, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was also found to exist in the neurons of the central nervous system (CNS). ACTH-containing neurons project their fibers to the broad areas of CNS. ACTH-related peptides play many roles in CNS. In recent years, the study about the central ACTH receptors has been made a great progress. It has been realized that the binding sites of ACTH exist in extensive regions of CNS. In the four types of currently cloned ACTH receptors (melanocortin receptors), two of them (MC3R and MC4R) are prevalent in the CNS.