Effects of pro-opiomelanocortin peptides on adrenocortical steroidogenesis.
Whilst studying the effects of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) peptides on adrenocortical steroidogenesis we showed that alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) has a specific glomerulotropic effect and potentiates both the mineralocorticotropic and glucocorticotropic effects of ACTH. The fragments ACTH-(4-10) and ACTH-(11-13) are responsible for the glomerulotropic effect of alpha-MSH. beta-Endorphin enhances, inhibits or has no effect on corticosteroidogenesis, depending on the dose and on the functional state of the adrenocortical cells (saturation of the receptors). beta-Endorphin antagonizes the effect of alpha-MSH on aldosterone production. It is suggested that the modulatory effects of POMC peptides on adrenocortical steroidogenesis may be of physiological significance.
Szalay
K S
KS
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest.
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000502:physiology; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000502:physiology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000502:physiology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013256:Steroids; D000521:alpha-MSH; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone