Involvement of rat corticotrophin-releasing factor-41-related peptide and vasopressin in adrenocorticotrophin-releasing activity from superfused rat hypothalami in vitro

Abstract

ABSTRACT Superfused rat hypothalamic pieces stimulated with a high K+ medium released corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) as detected in the rat isolated anterior pituitary cell column bioassay. This activity has components related to ovine CRF-41 (oCRF-41) and vasopressin as assessed by the effects of specific antisera on the ACTH-releasing activity of the hypothalamic column effluent. Release of immunoactive vasopressin paralleled that of CRF bioactivity. Immunoactive oCRF-41 could not be detected, as it is likely to be below the sensitivity of present radioimmunoassays. J. Endocr. (1984) 103, 25–29