Heterogeneity of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF).
Although CRH is the major contributor to the physiological regulation of ACTH secretion, it must be recognized that a considerable degree of heterogeneity exists regarding the chemistry and biological activity of various CRF-active substances, some of which still remain to be fully clarified. The widespread extrahypothalamic sources and diverse extrapituitary actions of CRFs suggest that multiple CRF components must act in concert for the organism to cope with the environmental changes and stresses.
Yasuda
N
N
2nd Department of Physiology, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan. k00599@sinet.ad.jp
Nakamura
K
K
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism
D002352:Carrier Proteins; C067133:corticotropin releasing factor-binding protein; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone