Kh. Jeong et al., Normal suppression of the reproductive axis following stress in corticotropin-releasing hormone-deficient mice, ENDOCRINOL, 140(4), 1999, pp. 1702-1708
The hypothalamic neuropeptide CRH has been postulated to inhibit LH secreti
on by a central action within the brain. To characterize the physiological
significance of CRH in stressor-induced inhibition of LH secretion, CRH-def
icient and wild-type mice were subjected to restraint or food withdrawal, a
nd plasma LH levels were determined. The proestrus LH surge of female mice
was equally suppressed by restraint in both genotypes, and central administ
ration of a CRH antagonist did not alleviate this suppression in either gen
otype. Male mice of both genotypes also demonstrated suppression of both LH
and testosterone secretion following restraint. Furthermore, food withdraw
al caused similar suppression of LH secretion in both female and male mice
regardless of CRH status. These data demonstrate that CRH is not necessary
to inhibit LH secretion following either restraint or food withdrawal and t
hat other molecules are able to suppress LH secretion during the response t
o stress in the context of CRH deficiency.