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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 May 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Mol Endocrinol. 2016 Feb 15;56(4):T77–T97. doi: 10.1530/JME-15-0323

Figure 6. Simplified schematic of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

Figure 6

A. Corticotrophs in the anterior lobe (AL) are under positive regulation by CRF released from the hypothalamus under times of stress. These cells release ACTH which causes the secretion of glucocorticoids from the adrenal cortex. Glucocorticoids then inhibit ACTH, β-lipotropin and b-endorphin release in a negative feedback manner. Dopamine (DA) inhibits and CRF increases secretion of α-MSH and β-endorphin from the melanotrophs of the intermediate lobe (IL). B. Leptin secreted from adipocytes activates POMC neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus to release α-MSH and β-endorphin. See main text for other neurotransmitters and peptide hormones that help regulate the secretion of POMC-derived peptides from these tissues.