Plasma cortisol and catecholamine responses to intracerebroventricular administration of CRF to rhesus monkeys

Abstract

Synthetic ovine corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) was administered directly into the 4th ventricle of rhesus monkeys. A dose dependent increase in plasma cortisol was observed following 10 μg/kg, 20 μg/kg, and 60 μg/kg of CRF. Increases in plasma epinephrine were also evident following the highest dose of CRF. Plasma norepinephrine, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate did not increase significantly following CRF administration. These data suggest that in the rhesus monkey, central administration of ovine CRF leads to activation of the pituitary-adrenocortical axis at doses that do not raise plasma catecholamines.