title: Corticotropin-releasing factor is a potent inhibitor of sexual receptivity in the female rat.
abstract: Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), the recently characterized and synthesized 41-amino acid polypeptide isolated from ovine hypothalami, has been shown to be a potent stimulator of adenohypophyseal beta-endorphin and corticotropin (ACTH) secretion both in vitro and in vivo. In common with other regulatory peptides, CRF has also been demonstrated to possess extra-hypophysiotropic roles. Indeed, intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) administered CRF elicits several endocrine and behavioural responses compatible with the concept that this peptide could be a key signal in coordinating the organism's endocrine and behavioural responses to stressful and other adaptive stimuli. We now provide the first evidence for neurally placed CRF in the control of a specific hormone-dependent behavioural response and unequivocally demonstrate an extremely potent suppressive effect of CRF on sexual behaviour in the female rat when microinfused into the arcuate-ventromedial area of the hypothalamus (ARC-VMH) and the mesencephalic central grey (MCG).
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture; D051381:Rats; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone