The HPA axis is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), released by the hypothalamus, is a peptide hormone and neurotransmitter. A peptide hormone is a hormone synthesized of peptides (2 or more amino acids linked in a chain) or proteins. Alternatively, hormones could be steroid hormones. CRH is a 41 amino acid long peptide derived from a 196 amino acid long pro hormone. The stimulus that signals its release is stress, and it is secreted from the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, specifically. It is released into the median eminence and carried into the portal system of the the anterior pituitary gland. It then stimulates corticotrophins to secrete adrenocorticotrophic hormone.
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