Stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis by epidermal growth factor.
The effects of mouse epidermal growth factor (mEGF) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis were studied in vivo in conscious male rats and in vitro with cultured anterior pituitary cells. Both intravenous (i.v.) and intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of mEGF (5-20 ng: 8.3-33.3 pmol) produced significant, dose-related increases in plasma ACTH and corticosterone concentrations. The potency of mEGF is 1/20-1/50 of that of rat corticotropin-releasing factor (rCRF), and pretreatment with 150 micrograms alpha-helical CRF (9-41) completely abolished the effects of the two peptides. mEGF in concentrations ranging from 10 pM to 10 nM did not significantly affect ACTH release from dispersed anterior pituitary cells. It also failed to alter ACTH secretion in response to rCRF. These results indicate that mEGF stimulates the pituitary-adrenocortical axis through a CRF-dependent mechanism.
Miyabo
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Fukui Medical School, Japan.
Ooya
E
E
Miyanaga
K
K
Aoyagi
N
N
Hirai
M
M
Kishida
S
S
Nakai
T
T
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone