Elsevier

Peptides

Volume 4, Issue 3, May–June 1983, Pages 301-304
Peptides

Effect of 41-CRF antiserum on the secretion of ACTH, B-Endorphin and α-MSH in the rat

https://doi.org/10.1016/0196-9781(83)90137-7Get rights and content

Abstract

In order to elucidate the physiological role of the 41 amino-acid residue corticotropin-releasing factor (41-CRF) on the secretion of ACTH, B-Endorphin and α-MSH, plasma levels of these peptides were measured by radioimmunoassay in intact and adrenalectomized rats, two hours after the injection of either 41-CRF antiserum (CRF-AS) or normal rabbit serum for controls. The administration of CRF-AS strikingly lowered the plasma ACTH levels in both intact and adrenalectomized rats. A statistically significant reduction of plasma levels of B-Endorphin was also observed in the same rats. However, the effect of CRF-AS on B-Endorphin release was less pronounced than the effect on ACTH release. No changes in plasma α-MSH levels were observed after passive immunization with CRF-AS. We conclude that, in the rat, 41-CRF plays a physiological role in the regulation of ACTH and B-Endorphin secretion, but is not involved in the regulation of α-MSH release from the pituitary gland.

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