Current Molecular Pharmacology - Volume 11, Issue 1, 2018

Background: Dysregulated stress neurocircuits, caused by genetic and/or environmental changes, underlie the development of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is the major physiological activator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and consequently a primary regulator of the mammalian stress response. Together with its three family members, urocortins (UCNs) 1, Read More

Background: There has been a constant pursuit for development of newer therapies which can contribute to the relatively nascent field of cardioprotection in the setting of myocardial ischemiareperfusion injury. One novel cardioprotective agent among others, that has shown promising results in the limited number of research studies undertaken till now, is Urocortin. Urocortins are peptides belonging to the Corticotropin Read More

Background: The corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) family of neuropeptides, CRF and the Urocortins, and their receptors are present not only within the central nervous system but also in the periphery at various locations and at the sites of inflammation where they influence its progress in a complex local / paracrine manner. Objective and Methods: This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the regulation of infl Read More

Background: Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) pathways coordinate behavioral, endocrine, autonomic and visceral responses to stress. Convergent anatomical, molecular, pharmacological and functional experimental evidence supports a key role of brain CRF receptor (CRF-R) signaling in stress-related alterations of gastrointestinal functions. These include the inhibition of gastric acid secretion and gastric-small Read More

Background: Hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) has a key role in coordinating and controlling complex responses to stress, both systemically, by stimulating the expression of the pituitary POMC gene, and thus, resulting in increased production of ACTH and adrenal glucocorticoid release, and locally since CRH has been identified in several peripheral tissues. CRH seems to exert its effects through int Read More

Background: Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), the main peptide-mediator of stress, has been found in the female reproductive system. Objective: Herein, the role of CRH receptors in the female reproductive system is presented. Results: It is clear that CRH receptors are involved in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitaryovarian axis, while locally are associated with decidualization, embryonic implantation, early Read More