you are part of a physiology lab final project which has you

you are part of a physiology lab final project, which has you taking exogenous ACTH. Once you start taking this exogenous ACTH on a regular basis, which of the following would be true? a) endogenous levels of CRH would go down b) endogenous levels of cortisol would go down c) exogenous levels of cortisol would go down d) exogenous levels of CRH would go up e) none of the above

Solution

The correct option is............a) endogenous levels of CRH would go down ACTH or adenocorticotrophic hormone regulates cortisol. Pituitary gland produces ACTH. If ACTH could not able to control adrenal cortisol, leads to Cushing’s syndrome. If more the ACTH get produced, leads to exogenous Cushing’s syndrome. If exogenous ACTH has been taken, leads to high level of cortisol, and exogenous Cushing’s syndrome could be observed. CRH or corticotrophin releasing hormone plays a role in triggering synthesis of ACTH from the pituitary. Due to exogenous intake of ACTH, leads to decrease in CRH, and thus decrease in production of ACTH from the pituitary due to high availability of exogenous ACTH.