Corticotropin releasing factor produces increases in brain excitability and convulsive seizures in rats.
Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) is a 41-residue peptide, capable of stimulating the secretion of corticotropin (ACTH)-like and beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity from the adenohypophysis. Low doses of CRF (0.0015-0.15 nM) given intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) produced changes in electrographic activity suggestive of increased arousal. Higher doses of CRF (1.5-3.75 nM) induced, over a period of 3-7 h, electrographic and behavioral signs of seizure activity indistinguishable from those which occur following electrical 'kindling' of the amygdala.
D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004569:Electroencephalography; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced*
D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone