CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE, RECEPTOR REGULATION AND THE STRESS-RESPONSE

Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) coordinates behavioral, autonomi c and hormonal responses to stress, including activation of the hypoth alamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis with stimulation of adrenocorticot ropin (ACTH) and glucocorticoids. Differential changes of expression o f CRH and vasopressin (VP) in the parvicellular hypothalamic paraventr icular nucleus (PVN), as well as regulation of CRH and VP receptors, a re critical for the responsiveness of the HPA axis during stress. Pitu itary CRH receptor (CRH-R) expression and content is controlled by the coordinated action of CRH, VP and glucocorticoids. Marked changes in hypothalamic and pituitary CRH-R expression support a key regulatory r ole for CRH in the HPA axis and the integrated stress response.