Corticotrope
Encyclopedia
Corticotropes are basophilic
cells
in the anterior pituitary
that produce adrenocorticotropic hormone
, melanocyte-stimulating hormone
and lipotropin
. These cells respond to corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and make up about 20% of the cells in the anterior pituitary.
Basophilic
Basophilic is a technical term used by histologists. It describes the microscopic appearance of cells and tissues, as seen down the microscope, after a histological section has been stained with a basic dye. The most common such dye is haematoxylin....
cells
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
in the anterior pituitary
Anterior pituitary
A major organ of the endocrine system, the anterior pituitary, also called the adenohypophysis, is the glandular, anterior lobe of the pituitary gland...
that produce adrenocorticotropic hormone
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Adrenocorticotropic hormone , also known as 'corticotropin', 'Adrenocorticotrophic hormone', is a polypeptide tropic hormone produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It is an important component of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and is often produced in response to biological...
, melanocyte-stimulating hormone
Melanocyte-stimulating hormone
The melanocyte-stimulating hormones are a class of peptide hormones that are produced by cells in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland...
and lipotropin
Lipotropin
Lipotropin is a hormone produced by the cleavage of pro-opiomelanocortin . The anterior pituitary gland produces the pro-hormone POMC, which undergoes cleavage to adrenocorticotropin and β-lipotropin .- β-Lipotropin :...
. These cells respond to corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and make up about 20% of the cells in the anterior pituitary.