中枢ACTH受体研究进展

Progress in the Study of the Central ACTH Receptors

除垂体以外，中枢神经系统也含有促肾上腺皮质激素（ＡＣＴＨ）能神经元，其神经纤维在中枢具有较广泛的投射。ＡＣＴＨ相关肽类在中枢发挥着多种生理功能。近年来对于中枢ＡＣＴＨ受体的研究取得很大的进展，现己确认ＡＣＴＨ结合位点在中枢具有广泛的分布。新近克隆出的四种ＡＣＴＨ受体（即黑皮素受体）中，有两种（ＭＣ３Ｒ和ＭＣ４Ｒ）是中枢神经系统占优势的受体亚型。

In addition to pituitary gland,adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH)was also found to exist in the neurons of the central nervous system(CNS).ACTH-containing neurons project their fibers to the broad areas of CNS.ACTH related peptides play many roles in CNS.In recent years,the study about the central ACTH receptors has been made a great progress.It has been realized that the binding sites of ACTH exist in extensive regions of CNS.In the four types of currently cloned ACTH receptors(melanocortin receptors),two of them(MC 3R and MC4R)are prevalent in the CNS.