Anticorticotropin
An anticorticotropin, or anticorticotrophin, is a drug which opposes the actions of corticotropin-releasing hormone and/or adrenocorticotropic hormone in relation to their stimulatory effects on the adrenal glands, or which otherwise suppresses steroid hormone production in the adrenal glands. They can be said to have anticorticotropic effects, and are used to treat Cushing's syndrome, prostate cancer, hyperandrogenism, and other conditions.
Some examples of anticorticotropins include the following:
Conversely, drugs that stimulate CRH and/or ACTH secretion and/or activate adrenal steroidogenesis, such as antiglucocorticoids like mifepristone, antimineralocorticoids like spironolactone, and adrenal steroidogenesis inhibitors like ketoconazole, metyrapone, mitotane, and aminoglutethimide, have corticotropic or procorticotropic effects.
Anticorticotropins are analogous to antigonadotropins and procorticotropins are analogous to progonadotropins.
