The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a chronic intracerebroventricular administration of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) on energy balance of male and female rats. One week after their delivery to the laboratory, both male and female rats were divided into two groups. One group in each sex was treated with human/rat CRF, while another group was infused with the vehicle. Chronic administration of CRF was accomplished by means of miniosmotic pumps connected to a cannula that was stereotaxically directed into the third ventricle. Food intake and body weight were measured each day during the study. After 14 days of treatment, the rats were killed by decapitation. Energy, fat, and protein contents of the carcasses were quantified. Serum testosterone and estradiol were assayed in males and females, respectively. Administration of CRF significantly reduced body weight gain and food intake in male rats. No significant difference in those variables was observed between female rats treated with CRF and their controls infused with saline. Similarly, metabolizable energy intake and body energy gain were reduced in male rats infused with CRF, whereas no difference was observed between female animals treated with CRF and those infused with saline. In male rats, body fat and body protein contents were lower in CRF-treated than in saline-infused rats. In female rats, CRF did not affect body composition. Serum testosterone in male rats and serum estradiol in female animals were reduced after chronic infusion of CRF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)