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.
Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest.
K S
KS
Szalay
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