Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 1 mediates emotional stress-induced inhibition of food intake and behavioral changes in rats

We investigated whether corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor type I (CRFR1) is involved in emotional stress-induced inhibition of food intake and behavioral changes in rats. The inhibition of food intake and increase in locomotor activity induced by emotional stress using a communication bo x were reversed by both intracerebroventricular injection of alpha-helical CRF (9-41), a non-selective CRF receptor antagonist, and intraperitoneal in jection of a selective non-peptidic CRFR1 antagonist. These results suggest that CRFR1 mediates at least in part the emotional stress-induced inhibiti on of feeding behavior and increase in locomotor activity. (C) 1999 Elsevie r Science B.V. AU rights reserved.