title: Corticotropin-releasing hormone and calcium signaling in corticotropes.
abstract: Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulates ACTH secretion from anterior pituitary corticotropes, largely, but possibly not exclusively, via activation of the adenylyl cyclase cascade. CRH stimulates secretion by increasing Ca(2+) influx and by Ca(2+)-independent mechanisms. As Ca(2+) influx is largely regulated by membrane electrical properties, we review the effects of CRH on membrane excitability and changes in cytosolic Ca(2+). We also speculate on possible pathways for CRH modulation of exocytosis by Ca(2+) independent mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Aileen K. Ritchie and Yuri A. Kuryshev are at the Departments of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77550, USA.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Y A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Kuryshev
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Childs