Regulation of corticotropin-releasing factor messenger RNA by nicotine in an immortalized amygdalar cell line

Preliminary data suggest that amygdalar corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF ) is regulated by nicotinic agonists. We sought to confirm and extend these observations by determining the effects of various concentrations of nicot ine on CRF messenger RNA expression in the AR-5 immortalized amygdalar cell line. Nicotine produced concentration- and time-dependent increases in CRF mRNA. This cell line thus confirms that nicotinic agonists stimulate amygd alar CRF and appears to be a useful model for studying molecular factors im portant in this interaction.