Effects of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF) on Somatic Pain Sensitivity in Conscious Rats: Involvement of Types 1 and 2 CRF Receptors

Abstract

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is involved in the regulation of pain sensitivity and can cause an analgesic effect in animals and humans. The aim of the study was to investigate the involvement of CRF1 and CRF2 receptors in CRF-induced analgesic effect (after intraperitoneal injection) on somatic pain sensitivity in conscious rats. Somatic pain sensitivity was tested by tail flick latency (tail flick test). The involvement of CRF1 and CRF2 receptors was studied by their selective antagonists NBI 27914 and astressin 2B, respectively. Systemic administration of CRF caused an increase in tail flick latency (analgesic effect). Pretreatment with NBI 27914 or astressin 2B eliminated CRF-induced analgesic effect. Besides, NBI 27914, but not astressin 2B, increased basal tail flick latency. The data obtained indicate that the analgesic effect can be mediated by both CRF1 and CRF2 receptors. CRF-1 receptor, in contrast to the CRF2 receptors, may be involved in the regulation of the basal level of pain sensitivity.