Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) is a hypothalamic hormone made up of 41 amino acids. Amino acids are proteins that when combined make up different substances, like hormones. The order of amino acids in CRH, has been determined, meaning that the hormone can now be synthetically reproduced in a laboratory setting.

When CRH is released from the hypothalamus it stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete another hormone, ACTH. ACTH then causes the adrenal glands to make a third hormone, cortisol. This process is known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Problems can occur in any of the steps of this process and result in a variety of diseases (Cushing's Syndrome and adrenal insufficiency).

Researchers hope that CRH created in a laboratory setting, ovine CRH (oCRH) can be used to help diagnose and treat conditions of the HPA axis. This study will test the relationship for single doses of oCRH in normal volunteers and patients with disorders of the HPA axis. The oCRH will be injected into the patients vein as a single injection or slowly through an IV line over 24 hours. The participants will have blood tests taken to measure hormone levels before, during, and after receiving the oCRH.

Condition	Treatment or Intervention
Adrenal Gland Hyperfunction Adrenal Gland Hypofunction Cushing's Syndrome Healthy	Drug: Ovine Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (oCRH)

Further Study Details: 

Expected Total Enrollment:  2250

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a 41 amino acid hypothalamic peptide whose chemical structure has recently been determined after more than two decades of intensive research. This peptide stimulates secretion of ACTH by the corticotroph cells of the pituitary gland. As with the previously discovered hypothalamic hormones, CRH has important diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This study seeks to explore these clinical applications by determining the dose-response relationship for single doses of ovine CRH (oCRH) in normal volunteers and in patients with disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. CRH is administered intravenously at doses up to 10 pg/kg, given as a bolus or up to 1 ug/kg/b as a continuous infusion lasting up to 24 hours. Plasma levels of ACTH, cortisol and CRH are measured before, during and after CRH administration.

Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Criteria

INCLUSION CRITERIA:
The normal volunteers are obtained through the NIH volunteer program or are NIH employees. Normal volunteers are in excellent health and are receiving no chronic medications.
We now routinely test patients with hypocortisolism or hypercortisolism in our clinic and ward.

Maryland
      National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 9000 Rockville Pike,  Bethesda,  Maryland,  20892,  United States; Recruiting

Study ID Numbers:  820045; 82-CH-0045
Record last reviewed:  April 30, 2004
Last Updated:  November 23, 2004
Record first received:  November 3, 1999
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00001180
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2005-04-08