CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE BUT NOT GLUTAMATE ELICITS HORMONAL RESPONSES FROM THE PARABRACHIAL REGION IN CATS

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-containing processes were found by immunohistochemistry in the dorsal and lateral parabrachial nucleus extending medially over the dorsal aspect of the brachium and then al ong the lateral and medial aspects of the mesencephalic trigeminal tra ct. Reactivity of lesser density extended ventrally from the medial pa rabrachial nucleus into the locus ceruleus and subceruleus. To determi ne if CRH acts in these areas to modulate plasma adrenocorticotropic h ormone (ACTH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), acutely prepared, chlora lose-anesthetized cats were tested with microinjections (100 nl/min, 2 min). Plasma ACTH increased significantly after injections of CRH (2 pmol) along the dorsal aspect of the brachium and in the locus subceru leus (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Plasma AVP increased signi ficantly after injections of CRH into the medial parabrachial nucleus (P < 0.01). These responses of ACTH and AW differed significantly from those to injections of either vehicle or glutamate at identical sites and from those to CRH injected in other areas. None of these latter r esponses was significant. CRH was without effect on arterial pressure even though glutamate (30 nmol) injected into the area ventral and med ial to the brachium elicited a significant presser response. We sugges t that excitatory amino acids such as glutamate act in this area to ac tivate neurons with descending projections that influence autonomic fu nction. In contrast, CRH appears to activate other neurons with ascend ing projections that drive neuroendocrine release.