title: Expression of corticotropin-releasing factor in the peripheral nervous system of the rat.
abstract: The occurrence and distribution of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the rat peripheral nervous system was studied by immunohistochemistry. CRF-positive nerve fibers were identified in the spleen, thymus, synovial membrane of the knee joint and adrenal gland. In general, CRF-positive fibers were seen predominantly in and around the blood vessels; however, many non-vascular thin varicose fibers were also observed. The neuronal character of the immunoreactive fibers was confirmed by staining consecutive tissue sections with a general neuronal marker, protein gene product 9.5. The finding of CRF-positive nerve fibers in the periphery demonstrates a strong anatomical link between the nervous, endocrine and immune systems, and may have pathophysiological implications in the inflammatory and stress-related disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bileviciute
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bergström
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ericsson-Dahlstrand
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kreicbergs
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lundeberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
chemical_list: D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone