Effects on Chronic Stress on Anterior Pituitary and Brain Corticotropin-ReleasingFactor Receptors

摘要

125I corticotropin-releasing factor (125Icrf) binding was measured in membranehomogenates from anterior pituitary and 8 brain regions from control and chronically stressed rats. The stressor consisted of 3 or 14 days of around-the-clock intermittent footshock avoidance/escape (ITI = 5 min) . Plasma corticosterone levels were almost doubled in stressed rats following 3 days of chronic stress and remained significantly elevated in rats stressed for 14 days vs. controls. 125I crf binding was decreased in anterior pituitary and frontal cortex following three days of chronic stress; binding affinity of anterior pituitary membranes was not different between control and stressed animals. 125I crf binding was similar in control and 3 day stressed animals in the other brain areas examined. After 14 days of chronic stress, hypothalamic 125I )CRF binding was decreased in stressed rats as compared to control animals but no other differences were seen.... Stress, Corticotropin-releasing factor receptors, CRF, CRH, Corticotropin-releasing hormone, Neuroendocrine factor receptors.