Alterations of corticotropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactivity in different brain regions after acute cocaine administration in rats.
Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) may mediate some of the neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to cocaine. In this study, the distribution of CRF-like immunoreactivity (CRF-LI) was determined in the hypothalamus and in several extrahypothalamic brain regions after acute cocaine administration in handled rats. CRF-LI decreased dose-dependently with cocaine administration in the hypothalamus and in the basal-forebrain structures. A small dose of cocaine (7.5 mg/kg) decreased CRF-LI in the hippocampus and in the frontal cortex. A significant, selective, dose-dependent increase in CRF-LI was found in the amygdala after cocaine injection. None of the investigated doses of cocaine altered CRF-LI in the striatum. These results suggest that acute cocaine administration alters brain CRF systems to contribute behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to cocaine.
Sarnyai
Z
Z
Department of Pathophysiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary.
Bíró
E
E
Gardi
J
J
Vecsernyés
M
M
Julesz
J
J
Telegdy
G
G
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003042:Cocaine