A 60,000 molecular weight human pituitary glycopeptide stimulates adrenal androgen secretion.

An approximately 60,000 mol wt glycopeptide has been isolated from acetone-dried human pituitary glands which stimulates production of the adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone, but not cortisol, in acute suspensions of collagenase-dispersed dog adrenal cells. Adrenal androgen secretion has generally been considered, like cortisol, to be under the control of ACTH. This new pituitary glycopeptide, with a molecular weight greater than that of proopiocortin, ACTH, PRL, or LH, may help explain instances during adrenarche, puberty, aging, and stress in which cortisol and adrenal androgen metabolism diverge.