Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 3, 1355-1368, Copyright © 1983 by Society for Neuroscience
Corticotropin-releasing factor immunoreactivity is widely distributed within the central nervous system of the rat: an immunohistochemical study
S Cummings, R Elde, J Ells and A Lindall
The discovery of a 41-amino acid peptide with potent corticotropin-
releasing factor properties has prompted a search for neurons that contain
this substance and potentially utilize it in intercellular communication.
The present study utilized immunohistochemical methods and an antiserum
directed against a synthetic replica of ovine corticotropin-releasing
factor. The rat hypothalamus was found to contain striking immunoreactive
groups of neuronal perikarya within the paraventricular, periventricular,
and anterior hypothalamic nuclei, some of which are likely to project to
the external layer of the median eminence and thereby comprise a
hypophysiotropic system. Certain other hypothalamic nuclei, as well as many
other regions of the central nervous system, were found to contain
corticotropin-releasing factor- immunoreactive neurons. Among the most
prominent of these were neurons in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, the
central nucleus of the amygdala, the region of the dorsal raphe, locus
ceruleus, the external cuneate nucleus, and the medullary reticular
formation. Thus, corticotropin-releasing factor, like many other
neurohormones and peptides, may participate in neuroendocrine regulation as
well as play a role as a neurotransmitter-like substance in numerous
extrahypothalamic circuits.