ABSTRACT
Considerable evidence, including data from physiological and immunocytochemical studies, indicates that central corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) immunoreactive neurons not only communicate through corticotropes to the rest of the organism, but may also communicate with neurons of the central nervous system. CRF has been administered to several neuronal preparations and cell lines while recording electrical activity. Cindy L. Ehlers provides an in-depth review of the effects of CRF on cortical and subcortical electrographic activity of freely moving rats. One of several brainstem nuclei that appears to receive an innervation of CRF fibers is the locus coeruleus. Another study involved testing the effects of iontophoretically applied CRF on forebrain and hypothalamic neurons in rats anesthetized with urethane. The first intracellular studies of CRF were performed on the hippocampal slice preparation, because of the ease of intracellular recording and administration of known drug concentrations in this preparation.
