Cholecystokinin-8 stimulates adrenocorticotropin release from anterior pituitary cells

T Reisine and R Jensen

Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) stimulated adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) release from both rat anterior pituitary cells in culture and a tumor cell line of the mouse anterior pituitary (AtT- 20/D16-16). The stimulation of ACTH release was dependent on the time of exposure to CCK-8 and the concentration of this peptide applied to anterior pituitary cells. Cerulein evoked ACTH release whereas human gastrin 1, CCK-4 and desulfated CCK-8 only produced minimal affects on ACTH release at concentrations of 10(-4) M. In contrast, these latter three peptides were as effective as CCK-8 in inducing the secretion of amylase from pancreatic acinar cells. Antagonists of CCK-8 receptors in the pancreas such as proglumide, benzotript and dibutyryl cyclic GMP did not affect the ACTH release response to CCK-8. The CCK-8 stimulation of ACTH release was calcium-dependent and blocked by glucocorticoid pretreatment. The mechanisms by which CCK-8 evoked ACTH release appears distinct from that of other ACTH secretagogues such as corticotropin releasing factor and vasopressin. The data suggest that CCK-8 is a corticotropin releasing factor-like agent acting through a putative novel receptor subtype in the anterior pituitary.

Volume 236, Issue 3, pp. 621-626, 03/01/1986
Copyright © 1986 by American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics

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