ACTH Hormone Podcast

Here is the podcast!

My hormone is called ACTH, also known as corticotropin. It is produced in the anterior pituitary gland, which is a major organ of the endocrine system. The endocrine system is a collection of glands that produce hormones directly into the circulatory system. ACTH is a component of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, also known as the HPA Axis. It is a set of three endocrine glands: the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland (which ACTH is apart of) and the adrenal. The HPA axis controls reactions to stress and regulates different body processes like digestion, the immune system, and emotions. ACTH is apart of a negative feedback loop. It is produced in response to stress. When someone is in a very stressful situation, impulses from organs pass to the brain and then to the hypothalamus which is apart of the HPA Axis. The hypothalamus then influences the pituitary gland to create more ACTH. ACTH then stimulates the external layer of the adrenal glands and produces cortisol. ACTH is water soluble and regulates the levels of the hormone cortisol. High cortisol levels can be an indication of Cushing’s disease which is caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland. Someone with high cortisol levels has high blood pressure. People with low cortisol levels could have Addison’s disease, where the pituitary gland is unable to produce enough hormones. Low cortisol levels lead to low blood pressure. MCR is a family of receptors that regulate types of hormones. MCR is the receptor for ACTH, and regulates the entire adrenal. So, ACTH regulates the production of cortisol and is produced in response to stress.