Sequential Crush: I Know You Are Dying To Know... "The Truth About M...: Friday, November 29, 2013
Sequential Crush: I Know You Are Dying To Know... "The Truth About M...: I had quite the scare the other day... I thought my trusty computer died on me. But somehow, I was able to bring it back to life. Phew! C...
Clinical Chemistry Blog Note 2-B Adrenocorticotropic hormone: Saturday, April 20, 2013
ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE (ACTH, CORTICOTROPIN)
When I heard that my classmates and I
are required to make blogs about Endocrinology specifically the hormones assigned
to each of us… Gahh, I had some mixed emotions… I felt excited, happy,
frustrated, stressed, pressured, precarious and unsure. How so? Honestly, as far
as I remember, it’s been 6 months since the last time I wrote a blog. Hence
because of this assignment that our beloved Clinical Chemistry professors gave
us, it gave me an inspiration to be motivated again in making random blogs
about life, love, friendship, etc. etc... What’s more challenging is that, this
blog is not only about the abc’s and 123’s of life but it is about the
endocrine system of the human body particularly the Adrenocorticotropic hormone. So yeah, I was very doubtful on how to
start this blog; “Will I be able to finish this?” “Will I be an effective
writer?” “How am I going to confer about it without making it difficult to be
understood by other readers?” “How will I relate it?” These are just some of
the things that I was thinking repeatedly. It was stressful for me indeed.
Haha! But of course, I will never let any hesitations hinder me from doing
things that I ought to do.
Ok, to start off… Let me introduce you to a
polypeptide hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary
gland namely, the adrenocorticotropic hormone which
is also known as corticotropin. The primary
function of the ACTH is to stimulate the cortex of the adrenal gland to secrete glucocorticoids,
mainly cortisol, and has little
control over secretion of aldosterone, the other major steroid hormone from the
adrenal cortex.
The pituitary gland is a small organ located beneath the brain. The
pituitary gland produces substances (hormones) that enter the bloodstream and
help control many processes of the body.
Illustration
copyright 2000 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
http://www.nucleusinc.com
The adrenal glands
are located above your kidneys.
Oh, yes. Let’s not forget about glucocorticoids,
hormones secreted by the cortex of the adrenal gland, especially cortisol,
which influence glucose metabolism.
On the other hand, Cortisol steroid hormone released from the
adrenal gland in response to ACTH. Cortisol is involved in the management of
stress within the body. It’s both a hormonal and stress-related mechanism. When
cortisol levels rise, ACTH levels normally fall. When cortisol levels fall, ACTH levels
normally rise. ACTH is released in response to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). ACTH and cortisol levels change throughout the day; and
ACTH is released in "bursts" so levels vary from minute to minute. So
that only means that these two hormones, the ACTH and cortisol go hand in hand.
Wow, sweet! ❤
Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM96TMN3Iz1oNg7zCVHqRJndqtyvWbLt80cAnhBQrzjQt8wHIWBItRo4VMmi7CpyTiGvbZMBJ2YCnjQQQRazxA53zI5z7vzMewCdzZknA_S7n4hvVap11DA8ImBvJHY9IfJ8L8TfFjBuPj/s1600/hand-in-hand.jpg
According to Bowen, ACTH release is stimulated by corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), a
secretion of the hypothalamus. Corticotropin-releasing
hormone is secreted in response to many types of stress, which makes sense in
view of the "stress management" functions of glucocorticoids.
Corticotropin-releasing hormone itself is inhibited by glucocorticoids; making the ACTH secretion an excellent example of the
regulation of a biological system by a negative-feedback
mechanism. In short, almost immediately after a stressful event, the levels of the
regulatory hormones ACTH and CRH increase, causing an immediate rise in
cortisol levels.
Blah.
Blah. Blahhhh.. Jeeeez! This is hard. I’m not that good at explaining things
like these. Oh no! I can’t be a teacher L Hahaha. To be honest, even my own
self feels that I am becoming boring. I do really wish I could be like my
favorite professors. I admire them so much. *Sighhhh… I have a lot of things to
do after making this blog... Need to review for Histopathology and Lab Management,
plus household chores… Oh no (again)!! I’m stressed! So most probably my ACTH level
is currently increased at this moment! I can’t take this! Hmmmm. I’ll just express
it through a very simple poem that I personally made! J
I am so stressed,
but definitely not depressed
I am so desperate
to finish this blog I need to create.
While I am home
Who would have thought that I’ll make a
poem,
especially about this hormone?
And so here I am, sitting for hours,
all alone.
Adrenocorticotropic is very epic
Isn’t it fantastic?
Naturally made by the gland, anterior
pituitary
Without it, we won’t be healthy.
It targets the cells of Adrenal cortex
When taken intravenously, it may have
side effects
like rapid gain of weight
and uneven heart rate.
ACTH is also called as corticotropin
It has also indirect
effect of darkening the skin.
Cushing’s & Addison’s disease,
when ACTH is increased
Adrenal tumor & hypopituitarism, when
ACTH is decreased
Nevertheless, even life is stressful
I am thankful ACTH is very helpful
That’s why even under pressure,
I am still joyful for sure!
I am running out of words to say.
At least I know I’ll always be okay,
with these hormones all the way.
So good bye! Have a good day!
And
to end this… Meet Pat! She’ll explain to you everything about
Adrenocorticotropic hormone. Uhh.. But not really everything. Just the basics,
the nice-to-know stuffs about ACTH for you my dear reader to further appreciate
our friendly little hormone, ACTH. Hope you enjoy!
Citations:
Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2010). Mosby’s
Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier.
Tortora,
Gerard and Bryan Derrickson (2009). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, 12th
ed.
Columbia
Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition. Feb2013, p1-1. 1p.
Stewart PM, Krone NP. The adrenal
cortex. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS,
Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders
Elsevier; 2011:chap 15.
Melmed S,
Kleinberg D. Pituitary masses and tumors. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S,
Polonsky
KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders
Elsevier; 2011:chap 9.
URL:
