The cocaine-induced elevation of plasma corticosterone is mediated by endogenous corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in rats

Abstract

The role of endogenous corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the cocaine-induced corticosterone response was investigated by using the immunoncutralization and receptor blockade of endogenous CRF. Pretreatment with different dilutions (1:5, 1:10 and 1:20, i.c.v.) of CRF antibody and different doses of an antagonist for CRF receptors, α-helical CRF 9–41 (αh-CRF, 0.001–1.0 μg, i.c.v.), dose-dependently prevented the cocaine-induced increase in corticosterone level. These results support the hypothesis that the activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by cocaine is mediated through the release of endogenous CRF.