Feek C M, Marante D J, Edwards C R
Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1983 Nov;12(3):597-618. doi: 10.1016/s0300-595x(83)80057-7.
Anterior pituitary corticotrophin cells secrete ACTH as part of a larger precursor molecule, pro-opiomelanocortin. Post-translational cleavage of this precursor yields three major peptides: ACTH, beta-LPH and N-POMC. Experiments both in vivo and in vitro suggest that N-POMC may act as a prohormone amplifier for ACTH-induced adrenal steroidogenesis and as regulator of adrenocortical cell growth. The secretion of POMC is under the control of CRF. These findings are discussed in relation to the pathophysiology of corticotrophinoma. The primary defect in this condition appears to reside at the level of the anterior pituitary cell and is readily amenable to treatment by trans-sphenoidal microsurgery. The estimation of plasma ACTH concentrations is proving useful in the monitoring of various clinical conditions including Addison's disease and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
垂体前叶促肾上腺皮质激素细胞分泌促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH），它是一种更大的前体分子——阿黑皮素原的一部分。该前体分子的翻译后切割产生三种主要肽段：促肾上腺皮质激素、β-促脂素和N-阿黑皮素原。体内和体外实验均表明，N-阿黑皮素原可能作为促肾上腺皮质激素诱导的肾上腺类固醇生成的激素原放大器以及肾上腺皮质细胞生长的调节剂。阿黑皮素原的分泌受促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子（CRF）的控制。本文结合促肾上腺皮质激素瘤的病理生理学对这些发现进行了讨论。这种疾病的主要缺陷似乎存在于垂体前叶细胞水平，并且很容易通过经蝶窦显微手术进行治疗。血浆促肾上腺皮质激素浓度的测定在监测包括艾迪生病和先天性肾上腺增生在内的各种临床情况中已证明是有用的。
