Endocrine and metabolic actions of adrenomedullin

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent hypotensive hormone that exerts many action s directly on the cardiovascular, renal, endocrine and neural systems. The peptide contributes to both the normal function of reproductive tissues as well as the maintenance of pregnancy. In the pituitary gland, AM inhibits A CTH secretion and can control the release of vasopressin under conditions o f volume depletion. The peptide acts in the adrenal gland to regulate the s ecretion of aldosterone and can cause the release of catecholamines. AM inh ibits insulin secretion from pancreatic islets. Not only is AM involved in the normal functions of these various systems, but altered levels of the pe ptide are seen in many disease states including cancer, preeclampsia, diabe tes, congestive heart failure, and septic shock. The recent developments of AM knockout and transgenic overexpression mice provides model systems to s tudy the peptide's role in normal and disease states, as well as to evaluat e the potential therapeutic uses of AM analogs or AM antagonists.