Abstract
We previously reported that rats exposed to repeated restraint (3 h/day for 3 days) experience temporary hypophagia and a sustained reduction in body weight compared with nonrestrained controls. Studies described here determined the involvement of central corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors in the initiation of this chronic response to acute stress. In experiment 1, Sprague-Dawley rats were fitted with cannulas in the lateral ventricle and infused with 50 μg of αhCRF-(9-41) or saline immediately before restraint on each of the 3 days of restraint. The receptor antagonist inhibited hypophagia and weight loss on day 1 of restraint but not on days 2 and 3. In experiment 2, 10 μg of αhCRF-(941) or saline were infused into the third ventricle immediately before each restraint. The receptor antagonist totally blocked stress-induced hypophagia and weight loss. These results demonstrate that CRF receptors located in or near the hypothalamus mediate the acute responses to stress that lead to a permanent change in the hormonal or metabolic processes that determine body weight and body composition.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | R1461-R1468 |
Journal | American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology |
Volume | 276 |
Issue number | 5 45-5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1999 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Food intake
- Restraint stress
- αhCRF-(9-41)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Physiology (medical)