Corticotropin-releasing factor from the rat brain measured by protein immunoblot.
The ability to measure changes in brain levels of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is an important step toward understanding the role of this neuropeptide in mood states. Here, we report for the first time that the protein (Western) immunoblot assay can be used to detect and quantify CRF (4.7 kDa) from the rat brain. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of the neuronal transport-inhibitor colchicine (0, 7.5, 15 and 75 microg) produced a dose-dependent increase in CRF levels within the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus with a concomitant and dose-dependent decrease in CRF levels within the median eminence (ME). These data provide a positive validation for the use of the immunoblot assay to detect treatment-induced changes in brain CRF levels.
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St. Belmont, MA 02478, USA. emeloni@mclean.harvard.edu
Edward G
EG
Meloni
Alexandra V
AV
Jackson
Bruce M
BM
Cohen
William A
WA
Carlezon
D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D006074:Gout Suppressants; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003078:Colchicine