Anticorticotropin

An anticorticotropin, or anticorticotrophin, is a drug which opposes the actions of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and/or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in relation to their stimulatory effects on the adrenal glands, or which otherwise suppresses steroid hormone production in the adrenal glands. They can be said to have anticorticotropic (or anticorticotrophic) effects, and are used to treat Cushing's syndrome, prostate cancer, hyperandrogenism, and other conditions.

Some examples of anticorticotropins include the following:

• Corticosteroids, including glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, which exert negative feedback on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis to maintain homeostasis[1][2]
• High-dose estrogens and antiandrogens, which can partially suppress adrenal androgen production[3][4][5]
• Certain progestins such as megestrol acetate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, and cyproterone acetate, which likely work via their weak glucocorticoid activity[6]

Conversely, drugs that stimulate CRH and/or ACTH secretion and/or activate adrenal steroidogenesis, such as antiglucocorticoids like mifepristone, antimineralocorticoids like spironolactone, and adrenal steroidogenesis inhibitors like ketoconazole, metyrapone, mitotane, and aminoglutethimide, have corticotropic or procorticotropic effects.

Anticorticotropins are analogous to antigonadotropins and procorticotropins are analogous to progonadotropins.

See also

• ACTH stimulation test

References

1. Michael J. Murray; Steven H. Rose; Denise J. Wedel; C. Thomas Wass, Barry A Harrison, Jeff T Mueller, Terence L Trentman (10 March 2014). Faust's Anesthesiology Review E-Book: Expert Consult. Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 554–. ISBN 978-1-4377-0367-2.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
2. Sai-Ching Jim Yeung; Yeung (March 2007). Internal Medical Care of Cancer Patients. PMPH-USA. pp. 699–. ISBN 978-1-55009-312-4.
3. Michael Oettel; Ekkehard Schillinger (6 December 2012). Estrogens and Antiestrogens II: Pharmacology and Clinical Application of Estrogens and Antiestrogen. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 543. ISBN 978-3-642-60107-1.
4. Andrew N. Margioris; George P. Chrousos (20 April 2001). Adrenal Disorders. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 84–. ISBN 978-1-59259-101-5.
5. Polderman KH, Gooren LJ, van der Veen EA (October 1995). "Effects of gonadal androgens and oestrogens on adrenal androgen levels". Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf). 43 (4): 415–21. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.1995.tb02611.x. PMID 7586614.
6. Philip W. Harvey (28 March 1996). Adrenal in Toxicology: Target Organ and Modulator of Toxicity. CRC Press. pp. 284–. ISBN 978-0-7484-0330-1.