Endocrinology, Vol 114, 914-921, Copyright © 1984 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Influence of corticotropin-releasing factor on reproductive functions in the rat

C Rivier and W Vale

The acute administration of 0.015-1.5 nmol ovine corticotropin- releasing factor (CRF) into the lateral ventricle of gonadectomized (or gonadectomized/adrenalectomized) female rats caused a rapid and prolonged dose-related inhibition of LH (but not FSH) secretion. By contrast, the acute peripheral injection of up to 15 nmol CRF was without effect in the same animal preparations. In cycling intact female rats, injection of 1.5 nmol CRF into the brain or of 75 nmol CRF sc inhibited ovulation and blocked the proestrous LH surge in about 50% of the animals. Lower doses of peripherally administered CRF were ineffective. Finally, CRF injected daily sc (15 nmol/day) to female rats during the first 12 days after mating caused a 40% disruption of pregnancy. These results indicate that CRF will lower plasma LH levels and can exert this effect in the absence of circulating steroids of either adrenal or gonadal origin. CRF inhibition of LH secretion, which we have previously reported to be absent in vitro, was unaltered by the opiate receptor antagonist naltrexone or by the ganglionic blocker chlorisondamine. Furthermore, blockade of CRF-induced beta-endorphin or ACTH release into the general circulation by dexamethasone did not interfere with the inhibitory effect of CRF on LH secretion. Such observations suggest that CRF exerts deleterious actions on reproductive functions through brain sites of action which, at least under the experimental mental design used, do not appear to directly involve opiate or peripheral catecholaminergic pathways.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. R Vulliemoz, E. Xiao, L. Xia-Zhang, J. Rivier, and M. Ferin Astressin B, a Nonselective Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor Antagonist, Prevents the Inhibitory Effect of Ghrelin on Luteinizing Hormone Pulse Frequency in the Ovariectomized Rhesus Monkey Endocrinology, March 1, 2008; 149(3): 869 - 874. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. F. Li, J. S. Kinsey-Jones, A. M. I. Knox, X. Q. Wu, D. Tahsinsoy, S. D. Brain, S. L. Lightman, and K. T. O'Byrne Neonatal Lipopolysaccharide Exposure Exacerbates Stress-Induced Suppression of Luteinizing Hormone Pulse Frequency in Adulthood Endocrinology, December 1, 2007; 148(12): 5984 - 5990. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Xiao, L. Xia-Zhang, N. Vulliemoz, J. Rivier, and M. Ferin Astressin B, a Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor Antagonist, Accelerates the Return to Normal Luteal Function after an Inflammatory-Like Stress Challenge in the Rhesus Monkey Endocrinology, February 1, 2007; 148(2): 841 - 848. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. L. Seymour, S. L. Dettloff, J. E. Jones, and G. N. Wade Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor subtypes mediating nutritional suppression of estrous behavior in Syrian hamsters Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, August 1, 2005; 289(2): R418 - R423. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. F. Li, J. E. Bowe, S. L. Lightman, and K. T. O'Byrne Role of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor-2 in Stress-Induced Suppression of Pulsatile Luteinizing Hormone Secretion in the Rat Endocrinology, January 1, 2005; 146(1): 318 - 322. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. F. Li, J. E. Bowe, J. C. Mitchell, S. D. Brain, S. L. Lightman, and K. T. O'Byrne Stress-Induced Suppression of the Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Pulse Generator in the Female Rat: A Novel Neural Action for Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Endocrinology, April 1, 2004; 145(4): 1556 - 1563. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Matsuwaki, E. Watanabe, M. Suzuki, K. Yamanouchi, and M. Nishihara Glucocorticoid Maintains Pulsatile Secretion of Luteinizing Hormone under Infectious Stress Condition Endocrinology, August 1, 2003; 144(8): 3477 - 3482. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Kageyama, C. Li, and W. W. Vale Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor Type 2 Messenger Ribonucleic Acid in Rat Pituitary: Localization and Regulation by Immune Challenge, Restraint Stress, and Glucocorticoids Endocrinology, April 1, 2003; 144(4): 1524 - 1532. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Dudas and I. Merchenthaler Close Juxtapositions between Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone-Immunoreactive Neurons and Corticotropin-Releasing Factor-Immunoreactive Axons in the Human Diencephalon J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2002; 87(12): 5778 - 5784. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. M. Oltmanns, B. Fruehwald-Schultes, W. Kern, J. Born, H. L. Fehm, and A. Peters Hypoglycemia, But Not Insulin, Acutely Decreases LH and T Secretion in Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2001; 86(10): 4913 - 4919. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. M. Keenan, J. Licinio, and J. D. Veldhuis A feedback-controlled ensemble model of the stress-responsive hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis PNAS, March 7, 2001; (2001) 51624198. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. A McLean, S. I Barr, and J. C Prior Cognitive dietary restraint is associated with higher urinary cortisol excretion in healthy premenopausal women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2001; 73(1): 7 - 12. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Sapolsky, L. M. Romero, and A. U. Munck How Do Glucocorticoids Influence Stress Responses? Integrating Permissive, Suppressive, Stimulatory, and Preparative Actions Endocr. Rev., February 1, 2000; 21(1): 55 - 89. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M.-L. Wong, M. A. Kling, P. J. Munson, S. Listwak, J. Licinio, P. Prolo, B. Karp, I. E. McCutcheon, T. D. Geracioti Jr., M. D. DeBellis, et al. Pronounced and sustained central hypernoradrenergic function in major depression with melancholic features: Relation to hypercortisolism and corticotropin-releasing hormone PNAS, January 4, 2000; 97(1): 325 - 330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Braude, Z. Tang-Martinez, and G. T. Taylor Stress, testosterone, and the immunoredistribution hypothesis Behav. Ecol., May 1, 1999; 10(3): 345 - 350. [Full Text] [PDF]

				U. Schweiger, M. Deuschle, B. Weber, A. Korner, C.-H. Lammers, J. Schmider, U. Gotthardt, and I. Heuser Testosterone, Gonadotropin, and Cortisol Secretion in Male Patients With Major Depression Psychosom Med, May 1, 1999; 61(3): 292 - 296. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K.-H. Jeong, L. Jacobson, E. P. Widmaier, and J. A. Majzoub Normal Suppression of the Reproductive Axis Following Stress in Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone-Deficient Mice Endocrinology, April 1, 1999; 140(4): 1702 - 1708. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. F. Battaglia, M. E. Brown, H. B. Krasa, L. A. Thrun, C. Viguie, and F. J. Karsch Systemic Challenge with Endotoxin Stimulates Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone and Arginine Vasopressin Secretion into Hypophyseal Portal Blood: Coincidence with Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Suppression Endocrinology, October 1, 1998; 139(10): 4175 - 4181. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. A. Laughlin, C. E. Dominguez, and S. S. C. Yen Nutritional and Endocrine-Metabolic Aberrations in Women with Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 1998; 83(1): 25 - 32. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. F. Battaglia, J. M. Bowen, H. B. Krasa, L. A. Thrun, C. Viguie, and F. J. Karsch Endotoxin Inhibits the Reproductive Neuroendocrine Axis While Stimulating Adrenal Steroids: A Simultaneous View from Hypophyseal Portal and Peripheral Blood Endocrinology, October 1, 1997; 138(10): 4273 - 4281. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. E. Fox, S. A. White, M. H. F. Kao, and R. D. Fernald Stress and Dominance in a Social Fish J. Neurosci., August 15, 1997; 17(16): 6463 - 6469. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Michelson, E. Galliven, L. Hill, M. Demitrack, G. Chrousos, and P. Gold Chronic Imipramine Is Associated with Diminished Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Responsivity in Healthy Humans J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 1997; 82(8): 2601 - 2606. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. Van Vugt, J. Piercy, A. E. Farley, R. L. Reid, and S. Rivest Luteinizing Hormone Secretion and Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Gene Expression in the Paraventricular Nucleus of Rhesus Monkeys Following Cortisol Synthesis Inhibition Endocrinology, June 1, 1997; 138(6): 2249 - 2258. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. L. Metzger, J. R. Kerrigan, and A. D. Rogol The Short-Term Infusion of Ovine Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Does Not Alter Luteinizing Hormone Concentrations in Young Adult Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 1997; 82(2): 697 - 700. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. L. M. Bivens and D. H. Olster Abnormal Estrous Cyclicity and Behavioral Hyporesponsiveness to Ovarian Hormones in Genetically Obese Zucker Female Rats Endocrinology, January 1, 1997; 138(1): 143 - 148. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C Rivier, J Rivier, and W Vale Stress-induced inhibition of reproductive functions: role of endogenous corticotropin-releasing factor Science, February 7, 1986; 231(4738): 607 - 609. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. M. Keenan, J. Licinio, and J. D. Veldhuis A feedback-controlled ensemble model of the stress-responsive hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis PNAS, March 27, 2001; 98(7): 4028 - 4033. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]