Mr. Jain et al., INTRACRANIAL METYRAPONE STIMULATES CRF-ACTH AXIS IN THE TELEOST, CLARIAS-BATRACHUS - POSSIBLE ROLE OF NEUROSTEROIDS, NeuroReport, 5(16), 1994, pp. 2093-2096
INTRACRANIAL administration of metyrapone, a blocker of the enzyme 11-
beta-hydroxylase, which is essential for the biosynthesis of corticost
eroids, resulted in profound stimulation of the nucleus preopticus and
the CRF-ACTH axis in the teleost, Clarias batrachus. It is suggested
that the putative blockade of the neurosteroid biosynthesis following
metyrapone might be responsible for this action. The present study for
the first time uncovers the possibility of inhibitory regulation of t
he CRF-ACTH axis by metyrapone sensitive neurosteroids.