Modulation of stress-induced ACTH release by corticotropin-releasing factor, catecholamines and vasopressin

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Abstract
The stress-induced release of ACTH is believed to involve the activation of several humoral and neural pathways, including corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)1–4, catecholamines5–12 and vasopressin13–17. The essential role of CRF was supported by our observation that immunoneutralization of this releasing factor significantly lowers plasma ACTH levels of ether-stressed rats2. However, the presence of a small but measurable residual ACTH secretion suggested the possible involvement of factors other than CRF in the stress response2. We report here that pretreatment with a vasopressin antagonist decreases the plasma ACTH levels of ether-stressed rats in later (10–20 min), but not earlier (0–10 min), phases of ether stress. The ganglionic blocker chlorisondamine, inhibits ACTH release during both phases of the response to ether by 40–60% when used alone, and by 100% when administered with anti-CRF antibody. These results support a role of CRF, catecholamines and vasopressin in mediating ACTH release by ether stress.