TY - JOUR AU - Lotfi, Claudimara Ferini Pacicco AU - de Mendonca, Pedro O. R. PY - 2016 M3 - Mini Review TI - Comparative Effect of ACTH and Related Peptides on Proliferation and Growth of Rat Adrenal Gland JO - Frontiers in Endocrinology UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2016.00039 VL - 7 SN - 1664-2392 N2 - Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) is a polypeptide precursor known to yield biologically active peptides related to a range of functions. These active peptides include the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which is essential for maintenance of adrenal growth and steroidogenesis, and the alpha-melanocyte stimulation hormone, which plays a key role in energy homeostasis. However, the role of the highly conserved N-terminal region of POMC peptide fragments has begun to be unraveled only recently. Here, we review the cascade of events involved in regulation of proliferation and growth of murine adrenal cortex triggered by ACTH and other POMC-derived peptides. Key findings regarding signaling pathways and modulation of genes and proteins required for the regulation of adrenal growth are summarized. We have outlined the known mechanisms as well as future challenges for research on the regulation of adrenal proliferation and growth triggered by these peptides. ER -