Comparative in vitro studies on corticotropin releasing activity of vasopressin and hypothalamic median eminence extract.

The in vitro corticotropic releasing effects of vasopressin (VP) and hypothalamic median eminence (HME) extract were compared as a function of their concentration and preincubation and incubation times. Whereas HME extract augmented the ACTH secretion from non-preincubated adenohypophyses, VP released corticotropin from the pituitaries only after a 2 h preincubation period. The disappearance of endogenous VP during the preincubation time rendered the gland responsive. The maximal stimulation of ACTH secretion by VP was markedly less than that induced by HME extract. The results suggest the presence of VP receptor sites in the anterior pituitary (AP) which are probably different from the receptor sites of the hypothalamic corticotropin releasing factor (CRF).