title: [Corticotropin releasing factor].
abstract: The search for a neurohormone specifically controlling ACTH secretion resulted in the discovery of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). This factor, located mainly in a paraventricular-infundibular hypothalamic tract, stimulates ACTH synthesis and secretion through a cAMP-dependent mechanism. The corticotropin-releasing factor is the predominant component of a complex control system of adrenal cortex secretion, which also includes catecholamines and the antidiuretic hormone. Its specificity as stimulant of the corticotropic function makes it an extremely useful tool for physiological and physiopathological studies of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis regulation.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Conte-Devolx
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guillaume
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castanas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giraud
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boudouresque
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grino
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
vernacular_title: La corticolibérine.