Inhibition of ACTH Release by Peptide Hormones: Molecular Mechanisms and Possible Role as Anti-Stress Factors
Abstract
The major objective of this proposal was to investigate whether somatostatin (SRIF) may be a non-steroid inhibitor of ACTH release from the anterior pituitary. The goals of the proposal were to; 1) investigate the structure of the SRIF receptor; 2) examine the effects of glucocorticoids on the expression of SRIF receptors in the pituitary; and 3) determine the physical differences between functional distinct subtypes of SRIF receptors in the pituitary. In the past year, we showed that the pituitary and brain by affinity chromatography. Presently we are attempting to sequence the receptor in order to attempt to clone the gene coding for this protein. In addition, we showed that glucocorticoids downregulate SRIF receptors in the anterior pituitary cell line AtT-20, which consist of a homogeneous population of ACTH secreting cells. Some of the biological actions of the SRIF on AtT-20 cells (inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity) are not affected by glucocorticoid treatment. We have observed that minor structural differences in the SRIF receptor appear to be responsible for the vastly different functional properties of the SRIF receptor subtypes in the pituitary. Attempts are under way to establish the basis of these minor structural differences. Keywords: Stress physiology, Corticotrophs, Anterior pituitary, Somatostatin receptor, Adrenocroticotropin, Cholinesterase inhibitors, Molecular biology.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 27, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA203478
Entities
People
- Terry Reisine
Organizations
- University of Pennsylvania