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CRH Effects on Central Noradrenergic Neurons: Relationship to Stress

  • Chapter
Mechanisms of Physical and Emotional Stress

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 245))

Abstract

The stress response is generally considered to be composed of endocrine, behavioral, and autonomic components, coordinated in such a way that it mobilizes the organism to best respond to a stressful stimulus and ultimately return to a homeostatic state. It is now well established that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is the primary neurohormone responsible for initiating the endocrine component of the stress response, i.e., release of ACTH from anterior pituitary cells1,2,3. Evidence supporting this role is summarized in other chapters of this series. An additional, broader, role for CRH may also be hypothesized; as a neurotransmitter acting in extrahypothalamic circuits to initiate an integrated CNS response to stress that includes the behavioral and autonomic components. To support such a role, several criteria should be met. For example, CRH should be localized in CNS regions whose potential function is to modify behavior or autonomie acitivity. It should alter activity of neurons in these target regions, and a mechanism should exist to translate CRH electrophysiological effects to appropriate behaviors or autonomic responses that are normally observed in the stress response. Most importantly, it should be demonstrated that stressful stimuli elicit release of CRH in these extrahypothalamic circuits resulting in subsequent changes in neuronal activity and the appropriate behaviors or autonomic responses.

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  1. Department of Pharmacology, George Washington University Medical Ctr., Washington, DC, 20037, USA

    Rita J. Valentino

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  1. National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    George P. Chrousos , D. Lynn Loriaux  & Philip W. Gold ,  & 

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Valentino, R.J. (1988). CRH Effects on Central Noradrenergic Neurons: Relationship to Stress. In: Chrousos, G.P., Loriaux, D.L., Gold, P.W. (eds) Mechanisms of Physical and Emotional Stress. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 245. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2064-5_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2064-5_5

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