title: Corticotropin-releasing factor potentiates acoustic startle in rats: blockade by chlordiazepoxide.
abstract: A series of experiments was performed to investigate the effects of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) on the amplitude of the acoustic startle response (ASR) in rats. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of 1 microgram rat CRF significantly potentiated acoustic startle amplitude; these effects were reversed in a dose-dependent manner by pretreatment with the benzodiazepine chlordiazepoxide (CDP). Doses of CDP that antagonized CRF-potentiated ASR did not lower startle baseline or antagonize amphetamine- or strychnine-potentiated ASR. These results suggest that CRF has "anxiogenic" properties and may serve as a neuroendocrine modulator of stress-enhanced behaviors.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Swerdlow
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Geyer
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Koob
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects*; D013331:Strychnine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002707:Chlordiazepoxide; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013331:Strychnine; D003913:Dextroamphetamine