title: Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) produces analgesia in humans and rats.
abstract: The analgesic activity of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) was determined in a clinical model and in the rat hot plate test. Patients administered CRF reported significantly less postoperative pain than patients pretreated with placebo. In rats, injection of CRF resulted in a significant analgesia which was comparable in both intensity and duration to a 300 times greater molar dose of morphine. These findings suggest that endogenous CRF may play a physiologic role in modulating pain when released under conditions of stress.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pain Section, National Institute of Dental Research, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hargreaves
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dubner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dionne
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone