title: A corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist reverses the stress-induced changes of exploratory behavior in mice.
abstract: Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) administered intracerebroventricularly (ICV) to rats and mice has been shown to elicit a variety of behaviors resembling those that occur in stress. In a novel multicompartment chamber, ICV CRF altered the behaviors in a manner closely resembling that observed following a period of restraint. In particular, 75 ng CRF ICV or 30-40 min restraint markedly reduced the time mice spent in contact with novel stimuli. ICV injections of a peptide antagonist of CRF, alpha-helical CRF9-41 (ahCRF), reversed the effects of restraint on this measure. This effect of ahCRF was dose dependent, with a minimal effective dose of 10 micrograms. Other behavioral measures appeared normal, and ahCRF did not significantly alter the stimulus-contact time in unrestrained mice. These results provide strong evidence to support the hypothesis that endogenous CRF may be a factor affecting stress-induced changes in exploratory behavior in mice.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; C045089:corticotropin releasing hormone (9-41)