Adrenocorticotropic hormone

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is a peptide hormone released by the anterior pituitary that stimulates glucocorticoid and adrenal androgen production in the adrenal cortex.

Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis: The neuroendocrine system linking hypothalamic signals, pituitary hormones, and adrenal steroid production. ACTH is the pituitary relay between hypothalamic CRH and adrenal responses.
ACTH stimulation test: A test that measures adrenal cortisol response after administration of synthetic ACTH. The test checks whether the adrenal cortex can respond to ACTH.
Bernardo Houssay: An Argentine physiologist who studied endocrine interactions and shared the 1947 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. His work on pituitary–adrenal interactions helped establish ACTH’s physiological role.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone: An anterior pituitary glycoprotein hormone that stimulates thyroid hormone production. It is another pituitary tropic hormone, but its target is the thyroid rather than adrenal cortex.
Corticotropin-releasing hormone: A hypothalamic peptide hormone that stimulates ACTH release from the anterior pituitary. CRH is the principal upstream signal that prompts pituitary ACTH secretion.
Corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test: A dynamic endocrine test measuring pituitary ACTH and cortisol responses to administered CRH. It evaluates how the pituitary releases ACTH when given its upstream stimulus.
Philip Hench: An American physician who shared the 1950 Nobel Prize for discoveries concerning adrenal cortex hormones and their effects. Clinical work on cortisone helped spur research into pituitary control of adrenal hormones.
Luteinizing hormone: A pituitary glycoprotein hormone that regulates gonadal steroid production and reproductive function. Like ACTH it stimulates steroid production, but acts on gonads through a different receptor.
Melanocortin 2 receptor: A cell-surface receptor activated by ACTH, especially on adrenal cortex cells. ACTH binding to this receptor initiates steroid-producing signals in adrenal cells.
Cushing syndrome: A disorder caused by prolonged exposure to excessive glucocorticoids, from internal or external sources. ACTH measurements help identify whether excess cortisol production is ACTH-dependent.

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