Abstract
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) was first reported in the ovine hypothalamus as a substance that stimulates pituitary–adrenal hormone secretion. Initially, sauvagine (SVG) found from the frog skin and urotensin-I (UI) isolated from the urophysis of teleost fishes were considered to be homologs of CRH in non-mammalian vertebrates. However, CRH was subsequently also identified from various vertebrate species, including amphibian and teleost fishes, and it is now recognized that CRH, UI, SVG, and newly identified urocortins (Ucns) comprise a CRH family. CRH has high affinity with type-1 CRH receptor (CRHR1), while type-2 CRH receptor (CRHR2) has high affinity with UI and SVG compared to CRH. Ucn-I binds to both CRHR1 and CRHR2, whereas Ucn-II and Ucn-III bind exclusively to CRHR2. CRH, UI, Ucn-I, and SVG stimulate adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion via CRHR1, while Ucn-II and Ucn-III are involved in the effects of stress on appetite and anxiety in the brain.
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