ALTERATIONS OF CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING FACTOR-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN DIFFERENT BRAIN-REGIONS AFTER ACUTE COCAINE ADMINISTRATION IN RATS

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) may mediate some of the neuroendo crine and behavioral responses to cocaine. In this study, the distribu tion of CRF-like immunoreactivity (CRF-LI) was determined in the hypot halamus and in several extrahypothalamic brain regions after acute coc aine administration in handled rats. CRF-LI decreased dose-dependently with cocaine administration in the hypothalamus and in the basal-fore brain structures. A small dose of cocaine (7.5 mg/kg) decreased CRF-LI in the hippocampus and in the frontal cortex. A significant, selectiv e, dose-dependent increase in CRF-LI was found in the amygdala after c ocaine injection. None of the investigated doses of cocaine altered CR F-LI in the striatum. These results suggest that acute cocaine adminis tration alters brain CRF systems to contribute behavioral and neuroend ocrine responses to cocaine.