Alterations in corticotropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactivity in discrete rat brain regions after acute and chronic stress

• Published in: The Journal of neuroscience Vol. 6; no. 10; pp. 2908 - 2914
• Main Authors: Chappell, PB, Smith, MA, Kilts, CD, Bissette, G, Ritchie, J, Anderson, C, Nemeroff, CB
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Soc Neuroscience 01-10-1986; Society for Neuroscience
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - metabolism; Animals; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - metabolism; Chronic Disease; Corticosterone - metabolism; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Male; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Radioimmunoassay; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Stress, Physiological - metabolism; Tissue Distribution; Animal model; Rat; Rodentia; ACTH-RH; Peptide hormone; Central nervous system; Neuroendocrine regulation; Brain (Vertebrata); Depression; Midbrain; Basal ganglion; Hypothalamus; Stress; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Immunoreactive form; Animal; Diencephalon; Amygdaloid nucleus; Locus coeruleus
• ISSN: 0270-6474; 1529-2401
• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.06-10-02908.1986

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) may regulate endocrine, autonomic, and behavioral responses to stress. Evidence indicates that CRF-like immunoreactivity (CRF-LI) is widely distributed throughout the CNS. In this study, the distribution of CRF-LI was determined in 36 rat brain regions by combined radioimmunoassay-micropunch dissection techniques and the effect of stress on CRF-LI was investigated, using a chronic stress model that induces endocrine changes in rats similar to those seen in depressed humans. A control group of rats was handled daily. An acute stress group was subjected to 3 hr of immobilization at 4 degrees C, while a chronic stress group was exposed to unpredictable stressors. Thirty-six brain regions were microdissected by the technique of Palkovits and assayed for CRF-LI, using a specific antiserum to ovine CRF. CRF-LI was detected in most regions. In controls, the highest concentrations were found in the arcuate nucleus/median eminence, the hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) nucleus, and the periventricular nucleus. The next highest levels were found in the raphe nuclei and dorsal vagal complex. CRF-LI was well represented in the locus coeruleus (LC); in the central, cortical, and medial amygdaloid nuclei; and in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Low concentrations occurred in the hippocampus and cerebrocortical regions. Appreciable concentrations were detected in midbrain and brain stem regions. Acute stress reduced CRF-LI in the arcuate nucleus/median eminence (ME) (by 52%) and in the median preoptic (MPO) nucleus (by 32%) and doubled its concentration in the locus coeruleus.