title: Central injection of astressin inhibits carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in rats.
abstract: The effect of intracisternal astressin, a specific and potent corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)(1) and CRF(2) receptor antagonist on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute liver injury was investigated in rats. Intracisternal astressin inhibited the elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase level induced by CCl(4). Intracisternal astressin also reduced CCl(4)-induced liver histological changes. The protective effect of central astressin on CCl(4)-induced liver damage was abolished by sympathectomy but not by hepatic branch vagotomy. These findings demonstrate that astressin acts in the central nervous system to induce hepatic cytoprotection, possibly through the sympathetic pathways in rats. These results further establish a role of endogenous CRF in the brain in hepatic pathophysiological regulation.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Medicine and Surgery, Asahikawa Medical College, Asahikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukiomi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakade
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoneda
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yokohama
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamori
authors.forename: Kimihide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanobe
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terano
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003714:Denervation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C104416:astressin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000410:Alanine Transaminase