Corticotropin-releasing hormone

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Corticotropin-releasing hormone
Identifiers
Symbol(s)	CRH
Entrez	1392
OMIM	122560
RefSeq	NM_000756
UniProt	P06850
Other data
Locus	Chr. 8 q13

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), originally named corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and also called corticoliberin, is a polypeptide hormone and neurotransmitter involved in the stress response.

1 Hormonal actions
2 Neurotransmitter actions
3 Role in parturition
4 Structure
5 See also
6 Reference

[edit] Hormonal actions

CRH is produced by neuroendocrine cells in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and is released from neurosecretory terminals of these neurons into the primary capillary plexus of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system. The portal system carries the CRH to the anterior lobe of the pituitary, where it stimulates corticotropes to secrete corticotropin (ACTH) and other biologically active substances (for example β-endorphin).

[edit] Neurotransmitter actions

CRH receptors are also present at many different sites in the brain, and CRH released from nerve endings within the brain acts as a neurotransmitter. For example, CRH receptors are found within the paraventricular nucleus itself, the central nucleus of the amygdala, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and at the locus ceruleus.

[edit] Role in parturition

CRH is also synthesized by the placenta and seems to determine the duration of pregnancy.

[edit] Structure

The 41-amino acid sequence of CRH was first discovered in sheep by Vale et al in 1981. Its full sequence is

SQEPPISLDLTFHLLREVLEMTKADQLAQQAHSNRKLLDIA

[edit] See also

[edit] Reference

Vale,W., Spiess,J., Rivier,C. and Rivier,J. Characterization of a 41-residue ovine hypothalamic peptide that stimulates secretion of corticotropin and beta-endorphin Science 213 (4514), 1394-1397 (1981).

Hormones and endocrine glands - edit

Hypothalamus: - TRH - CRH - GnRH - GHRH - somatostatin - dopamine | Posterior pituitary: vasopressin - oxytocin - lipotropin | Anterior pituitary: GH - ACTH - TSH - LH - FSH - prolactin - MSH - endorphins - lipotropin