Mechanisms of inactivation of hypothalamic regulatory hormones.

The mechanisms of enzymic inactivation of thyrotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone and somatostatin, the three fully-characterized hypothalamic regulatory hormones, and the possible physiological significance of the peptidases in neuroendocrine control has been reviewed. Application of the criteria of enzyme location (at the sites of biosynthesis, release, action, elimination and excretion), appropriate biochemical characteristics of the enzymes and changes in enzyme activity in physiological circumstances all suggest that the peptidases can contribute to the mechanisms controlling the hypothalamic hormones' release and actions. Besides their physiological function, the enzymes may also be directly involved in certain pathological conditions. There is evidence to indicate that the enzymes degrading the regulatory hormones may participate in the process of hormone activation as well as inactivation. A continuing investigation of the peptidases may lead to a better understanding of the established endocrine and other putative functions of these hypothalamic polypeptide hormones.