[The secretion of alpha-melanotropin in diseases of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal cortex system].

The paper is concerned with the results of investigation of the blood concentration of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), hypophyseal reactivity to stress caused by insulin hypoglycemia in 26 patients with diseases of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-adrenocortical system (Itsenko-Cushing disease and syndrome, hypothalamic syndrome of the pubertal period). A radioimmunoassay was used for the determination of the blood levels of alpha-MSH, ACTH and cortisol. In healthy persons the blood level of alpha-MSH rose 2-fold as compared to the basal one under the influence of insulin hypoglycemia-induced stress. In patients with Itsenko-Cushing disease at the active stage, alpha-MSH blood concentration was significantly elevated and a hypophyseal reaction to stress was disturbed. In Itsenko-Cushing syndrome, a decrease in the blood basal level of alpha-MSH and a hormone reaction to insulin hypoglycemia was noted. In patients with the hypothalamic syndrome of the pubertal period the blood level of alpha-MSH was raised and hypophyseal reactivity to insulin hypoglycemia was changed. Correlation analysis of the levels of alpha-MSH, ACTH and cortisol showed direct noticeable close relationships between the level of alpha-MSH and ACTH concentration in healthy persons and direct high close relationships between these indices in patients with Itsenko-Cushing disease. Correlation between the blood levels of alpha-MSH and cortisol was undetectable.