Physiological role of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in modulating the secretion of prolactin and luteinizing hormone in the female rat

Effects of rabbit anti-α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) immunoglobulins on α-MSH signaling related to food intake control

Anti-α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) polyclonal antibodies have been used for α-MSH neutralization in functional studies, but the results are sometime inconsistent with the antibody expected blocking properties. The present study aimed to determine if rabbit (Rb) anti-α-MSH immunoglobulins (Ig) may inhibit or enhance α-MSH signaling on melanocortin receptor type 4 (MC4R) and α-MSH-induced anorexigenic effect if presented as immune complexes with α-MSH. Polyclonal Rb anti-α-MSH IgG were commercially available and their ability to bind α-MSH has been confirmed by the immunohistochemical detection of α-MSH neurons in the rat hypothalamus. In vitro assay of the cyclic-adenosine mono-phosphate (cAMP) secreted by cells transfected with MC4R was performed to analyze effect of Rb IgG on α-MSH-induced cAMP production. We found that adding Rb IgG to α-MSH resulted in stimulation of cAMP detected at lower peptide concentrations as compared to α-MSH alone. To determine effects of Rb IgG on food intake, rats were injected into the arcuate hypothalamic nucleus with either α-MSH, Rb IgG alone or Rb IgG preincubated with α-MSH. During 2 days after injections, food intake was increased in both groups of rats receiving Rb IgG. However, during following 4 days when food was restricted to 1h/day, only the Rb IgG group displayed higher food intake. Furthermore, after the refeeding, 24h food intake was lower in rats receiving Rb IgG - α-MSH immune complexes. This group of rats was also characterized by higher number of immunopositive neurons in the arcuate nucleus expressing α-MSH and agouti-related protein but not tyrosine hydroxylase. Taken together, these results show that Rb anti-α-MSH antisera, although efficient for immunohistochemical detection of α-MSH, does not always display α-MSH blocking properties but, in contrast, may enhance α-MSH binding to MC4R and increase α-MSH anorexigenic effects when presented as immune complexes with the peptide.

Regulation of prolactin in mice with altered hypothalamic melanocortin activity

This study used two mouse models with genetic manipulation of the melanocortin system to investigate prolactin regulation. Mice with overexpression of the melanocortin receptor (MC-R) agonist, α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (Tg-MSH) or deletion of the MC-R antagonist agouti-related protein (AgRP KO) were studied. Male Tg-MSH mice had lower blood prolactin levels at baseline (2.9±0.3 vs. 4.7±0.7ng/ml) and after restraint stress (68±6.5 vs. 117±22ng/ml) vs. WT (p<0.05); however, pituitary prolactin content was not different. Blood prolactin was also decreased in male AgRP KO mice at baseline (4.2±0.5 vs. 7.6±1.3ng/ml) and after stress (60±4.5 vs. 86.1±5.7ng/ml) vs. WT (p<0.001). Pituitary prolactin content was lower in male AgRP KO mice (4.3±0.3 vs. 6.7±0.5μg/pituitary, p<0.001) vs. WT. No differences in blood or pituitary prolactin levels were observed in female AgRP KO mice vs. WT. Hypothalamic dopamine activity was assessed as the potential mechanism responsible for changes in prolactin levels. Hypothalamic tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA was measured in both genetic models vs. WT mice and hypothalamic dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) content were measured in male AgRP KO and WT mice but neither were significantly different. However, these results do not preclude changes in dopamine activity as dopamine turnover was not directly investigated. This is the first study to show that baseline and stress-induced prolactin release and pituitary prolactin content are reduced in mice with genetic alterations of the melanocortin system and suggests that changes in hypothalamic melanocortin activity may be reflected in measurements of serum prolactin levels.

Peripheral influences on central melanocortin neurons

The melanocortins are peptide products of post-translational processing of the pro-opiomelanocortin precursor protein. Melanocortin-expressing neurons are found in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and the nucleus of the solitary tract in the brain stem. The central melanocortin system is involved in a number of biological functions, including regulation of energy homeostasis. Hypothalamic and brain stem circuits interpret and integrate a number of peripheral inputs to provide a coordinated central response. This review examines the effect of these peripheral signals on central melanocortin signaling.

Effects of swim stress and α-MSH acute pre-treatment on brain 5-HT transporter and corticosterone receptor

The forced swim test (FST) can lead to stress-related diseases such as depression, through activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) and corticosteroid disregulation. Among the proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) has been shown to regulate long-lasting behavioral responses. Moreover, serotonergic pathways in various brain areas are activated by stressors, a feature that suggests a role for serotonin in both stress-induced HPAA disregulation and depressive physiopathology. Taking all together these data, we investigated the effects of the FST exposure and the effects of pre-treatment with alpha-MSH on cortical synaptosomal serotonin transporter (SERT) activity, corticosterone (CORT) plasma levels and on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) occupancy and expression in rat hippocampus. Young male rats were divided into three groups treated with saline or with alpha-MSH at doses of 1 or 4 microg/rat, 15 min prior to FST. Our data show that FST increased CORT secretion; GR levels in hippocampus decreased in density after stress without variations in affinity; GR redistributed from the cytosolic to the nuclear tissue fraction; finally, SERT activity strongly increased. All these effects were blocked by pre-treatment with alpha-MSH at the higher dose.

The critical role of the melanocortin system in the control of energy balance

Animals have developed highly adaptive and redundant mechanisms to maintain energy balance by matching caloric intake to caloric expenditure. Recent evidence has pointed to a variety of peripheral signals that inform specific central nervous system (CNS) circuits about the status of peripheral energy stores as critical to the maintenance of energy balance. A critical component of these CNS circuits is the melanocortin system. Regulation of signaling by melanocortin 3 and melanocortin 4 receptors in the CNS is controlled via neuronal cell bodies in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus that synthesize melanocortin receptor agonists such as alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) or antagonists such as agouti-related protein (AgRP). The activity of these two populations of neurons is reciprocally regulated by a number of peripheral and central systems that influence energy balance. Further, increased melanocortin signaling via pharmacological or genetic means in the CNS causes potent reductions in food intake and weight loss. Decreased melanocortin signaling via pharmacological or genetic means results in increased food intake and weight gain. Reviewed here is the wide range of evidence that points to the melanocortin system as a critical node in the diverse neurocircuitry that regulates food intake and body weight.

Agouti-related protein stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and enhances the HPA response to interleukin-1 in the primate

alpha-MSH antagonizes many of the immune and neuroendocrine effects induced by inflammatory cytokines. Studies have shown that alpha-MSH attenuates the stimulatory effect of IL-1 on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and plays a physiological role in limiting the HPA response to IL-1. Recently an alpha-MSH antagonist, agouti-related protein (AGRP), has been identified in the hypothalamus, which stimulates food intake by antagonizing the effects of alpha-MSH at specific melanocortin receptors. It is unknown whether AGRP can also modulate neuroendocrine responses to inflammatory cytokines. We have therefore examined the effects of AGRP on the HPA axis and on prolactin (PRL) at baseline and in response to stimulation by IL-1 beta in nine ovariectomized rhesus monkeys. In the first study, the effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) infusion of 20 microg (n = 6) and 50 micro g (n = 4) of human AGRP (83-132)-NH(2) were compared with icv saline infusion. There was a significant stimulatory effect of 20 microg AGRP on cortisol release over time (P < 0.001). The area under the hormone response curve (AUC) for cortisol increased by 29% after 20 microg AGRP vs. saline; the AUC for ACTH increased by 166% (P = 0.028); the AUC for PRL increased by 108% (P = 0.046). There was a significant stimulatory effect of 50 microg AGRP on ACTH (P < 0.001), cortisol (P < 0.001), and PRL (P < 0.001) release over time. The AUC for ACTH after 50 microg AGRP increased by 98%; the AUC for cortisol increased by 37%; the AUC for PRL increased by 161%. The effects of AGRP on ACTH, cortisol, and PRL release were prevented by alpha-MSH infusion. In the second study, animals received icv either 50 ng of human IL-1 beta or 20 microg of AGRP followed by 50 ng IL-1 beta. AGRP significantly enhanced the ACTH (P < 0.05) response to IL-1 beta. The peak ACTH response to IL-1 beta alone was 124 +/- 55 pg/ml vs. 430 +/- 198 pg/ml after IL-1 beta plus AGRP; the peak cortisol response was 70 +/- 8.2 microg/dl vs. 77 +/- 6.2 microg/dl, but this was not significantly different. In conclusion, AGRP stimulated ACTH, cortisol, and PRL release in the monkey and enhanced the ACTH response to IL-1 beta. These studies suggest that, in addition to its known orexigenic effects, AGRP may play a role in neuroendocrine regulation and specifically that AGRP may interact with alpha-MSH to modulate neuroendocrine responses to inflammation.

Leptin directly acts within the hypothalamus to stimulate gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion in vivo in rats

It is still not known whether leptin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, acts directly within the hypothalamus to stimulate the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-luteinizing hormone (LH) system. In order to address this question, the present study examined the effects of direct intrahypothalamic perfusions with leptin on the in vivo release of GnRH in ovarian steroid-primed ovariectomized rats utilizing the push-pull perfusion technique. Both alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and neuropeptide Y were also measured in the hypothalamic perfusates. In normally fed animals, the leptin infusion was without effect on the release of these three hypothalamic peptides and also without effect on plasma LH and prolactin (PRL), whether leptin was infused into the medial preoptic area (where the majority of GnRH neuronal cell bodies exist) or the median eminence-arcuate nucleus complex (where axon terminals of GnRH neurons are located). In contrast, in 3-day fasted rats leptin was effective in stimulating the secretion of GnRH, alpha-MSH, and LH, regardless of the site of perfusion. These three hormones were increased in a temporal order of alpha-MSH, GnRH and LH. Irrespective of the site of perfusion, leptin was without effect on the release of neuropeptide Y. Only when leptin was infused into the median eminence-arcuate nucleus complex was PRL secretion also stimulated, although its onset was 1 h behind that of LH. The leptin-induced elevations of GnRH, alpha-MSH, LH and PRL were all dose-dependently stimulated by subnormal (1.0 ng ml(-1)) and normal (3.0 ng ml(-1)) concentrations of leptin, but at higher concentrations (10 ng ml(-1)) it did not produce additional effects. Leptin infusion into the anterior hypothalamic area, a control site equidistant from both the medial preoptic area and the median eminence-arcuate nucleus complex, did not produce a significant change in any of the hormones in either the fed or fasted rats. These results demonstrate for the first time that leptin can act at both the cell bodies and axon terminals of GnRH neurons to stimulate the release of the neurohormone in vivo, and they also suggest that alpha-MSH may play a significant intermediary role in linking leptin and GnRH secretion.

Melanocortin-3 receptor mRNA expression in pro-opiomelanocortin neurones of the rat arcuate nucleus

The melanocortins alpha- and gamma-melanocyte-stimulating hormones (alpha- and gamma-MSH) derive from the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) precursor. Melanocortins exert a wide range of biological activities in the brain through activation of at least three distinct melanocortin receptor (MC-R) subtypes. In order to determine whether POMC neurones can modulate their own activity, we looked for the possible expression of the MC3-R gene in POMC-positive cell bodies in the rat hypothalamus. In situ hybridization experiments revealed that the density of MC3-R mRNA is particularly high in the arcuate nucleus which contains the main population of POMC neurones in the brain. The occurrence of MC3-R mRNA in POMC-positive cell bodies was demonstrated using a double-labelling in situ hybridization technique. The proportion of POMC neurones expressing MC3-R mRNA was significantly higher in the most rostral (43.5%) than in the most posterior part of the arcuate nucleus (8.2%). These results indicate that melanocortins likely exert a direct regulatory feedback on POMC neurones through activation of MC3-R receptors. Our data also suggest that MC3-R may be involved in the neuroendocrine responses induced by centrally administered melanocortins.

Differential role of melanocortins in mediating leptin's central effects on feeding and reproduction

Leptin serves as a humoral link coupling the status of energy reserves to the functional activity of the reproductive system. Leptin is thought to act through melanocortinergic pathways in the brain to regulate ingestive behaviors; however, whether melanocortins mediate leptin's actions on the neuroendocrine-reproductive axis is unknown. We tested this hypothesis first by determining whether the effects of leptin on feeding behavior and reproduction in the ob/ob mouse could be blocked by the melanocortin receptor (MC-R) antagonist SHU9119 and second, by examining the effects of the MC-R agonist MTII on feeding and the endocrine-reproductive system. Administered by intracerebroventricular injections, leptin inhibited food intake, raised plasma gonadotropin levels, and increased seminal vesicle weights compared with controls; SHU9119 (intracerebroventricularly) attenuated leptin's effects on food intake and body weight but did not alter leptin's stimulatory effect on the reproductive axis. MTII (intracerebroventricularly and intraperitoneally) decreased food intake and increased body temperature compared with controls but had no effect on the reproductive-endocrine axis. These results suggest that although leptin acts centrally through melanocortinergic pathways to inhibit ingestive behaviors and stimulate metabolism, leptin's activational effect on the reproductive axis is likely to be mediated by other, unknown neuroendocrine circuits.

Endogenous alpha-MSH modulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal response to the cytokine interleukin-1beta

We and others have previously shown that exogenous alpha-MSH antagonizes the stimulatory effects of the cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. It is currently unknown, however, if endogenous alpha-MSH plays a physiological role in regulating the HPA response to IL-1. We have therefore examined the HPA response to IL-1beta in rats pretreated with an affinity purified alpha-MSH antiserum (AS) infused intracerebroventricularly to neutralize endogenous alpha-MSH within the brain. alpha-MSH AS or a similarly purified fraction of normal rabbit serum (NRS) was injected intracerebroventricularly at 16 h and at 1 h prior to the i.c.v. injection of IL-1beta (2 ng or 20 ng) and blood samples were collected through an indwelling atrial catheter. After 2 ng IL-1beta, the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) response was significantly greater in the alpha-MSH AS treated rats (n = 7) compared to the NRS treated rats (n = 7) (P <0.01); the mean ACTH level rose to a peak of 594+208 pg/ml in the alpha-MSH AS treated rats vs 274+/-122 pg/ml in the NRS treated rats. The area under the ACTH response curve in the alpha-MSH AS treated animals was 181% of that in the NRS treated animals (P<0.05). A significant effect of alpha-MSH AS on the corticosterone response to i.c.v. IL-1beta was also noted during the first 3 h of the study (P<0.05). The mean area under the corticosterone response curve for the first 3 h in the alpha-MSH AS treated animals was 144% of that in the NRS treated animals (P <0.05). After 20 ng IL-1beta, the ACTH response over time was again significantly greater in the alpha-MSH AS treated rats (n=8) compared to the NRS treated rats (n=9) (P<0.02); the mean ACTH level rose to a peak of 673+/-190 pg/ml after alpha-MSH AS vs 490+/-115 pg/ml after NRS. Corticosterone levels rose to a peak of 42+/-3.9 microg/dl in the alpha-MSH AS treated rats vs 37+/-4.6 microg/dl in the NRS treated rats; this difference was not significant. We conclude that the IL-1beta induced stimulation of ACTH is significantly enhanced by antagonizing the activity of alpha-MSH. These results support a physiological role for endogenous alpha-MSH in limiting the HPA response to this inflammatory cytokine.

Molecular cloning of a bovine MSH receptor which is highly expressed in the testis

A novel G protein-coupled receptor (BDF3) was isolated from bovine genomic DNA by a combined approach of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and hybridization techniques. The predicted amino acid sequence is 317 amino acids in length and displays 80% homology to the human alpha-MSH receptor MC1. Stably transfected into CHO-K1 cells, BDF3 mediates an increase of intracellular cAMP-levels following incubation with NLE-alpha-MSH, a potent alpha-MSH analog. The stimulation with ACTH1-10 is only moderate and gamma-MSH is ineffective. Northern blot analysis of bovine tissues revealed that the BDF3 gene is highly expressed in the testis as a single 2.3 kb mRNA species, suggesting an involvement of the BDF3 receptor in spermatogenesis.

Heterogeneity of brain melanocortin receptors suggested by differential ligand binding in situ

The existence of multiple brain melanocortin receptor types has been postulated, based on the complex pharmacology of intracerebrally administered melanocortin (melanocyte-stimulating hormone-related) peptides. In this study, this hypothesis was tested by determining whether different brain melanocortin receptor populations can be discriminated on a pharmacologic or neuroanatomic basis. The abilities of various pharmacologically active native melanocortins and structural analogs, as well as other test substances, to compete with biologically active [125I]Nle4,D-Phe7-alpha-MSH ([125I]NDP-MSH) for binding to melanocortin receptors was determined, by in vitro binding and autoradiography in frozen rat brain tissue sections. We have previously shown that native melanocortins including alpha-MSH, gamma-MSH and ACTH1-39 compete with [125I]NDP-MSH for binding to brain tissue sites. In the present studies, each of the melanocortin peptides alpha-MSH, des-acetyl-alpha-MSH, beta-MSH and ACTH1-24 when present at 1 microM virtually eliminated [125I]NDP-MSH binding in each of a series of brain structures, including medial preoptic area, caudate putamen, olfactory tubercle, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, ventral part of the lateral septal nucleus, hypothalamic periventricular and paraventricular nuclei, dorsal anterior amygdaloid area, substantia innominata and thalamic paraventricular nucleus; as well as in extraorbital lacrimal gland, a peripheral melanocortin target. In contrast, the behaviorally and neurotrophically active melanocortin analogs Met(O2),D-Lys,Phe9-alpha-MSH4-9 (Org2766), ACTH4-9, and the antipyretic peptide alpha-MSH11-13 did not affect [125I]NDP-MSH binding at concentrations up to 100 microM, implying that the receptors or receptor binding sites which mediate the actions of these analogs must comprise additional types, distinct from those which bind [125I]NDP-MSH. Binding of [125I]NDP-MSH was also unaffected by the nonmelanotropic peptides ACTH1-4, ACTH34-39 and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and by the antipyretic drugs acetaminophen and lysine-salicylate. Although some of the brain structures are known to express mRNA encoding a gamma-MSH-preferring melanocortin receptor type known as MC3, the relative order of binding affinities of melanocortins, determined in concentration-response studies, was NDP-MSH > or = ACTH1-24 > or = alpha-MSH > gamma-MSH > ACTH4-10 in all brain structures. This suggests that other melanocortin receptor type(s) in addition to MC3 probably account for most of the [125I]NDP-MSH binding detectable in the brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Evidence for a physiological role of hypothalamic gastrin-releasing peptide to suppress growth hormone and prolactin release in the rat

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is localized to hypothalamic neurons and is a potent inhibitor of basal and growth hormone (GH)-releasing factor-induced GH secretion in the rat. It also acts similarly to inhibit opiate- and stress-induced prolactin (PRL) release. To determine the physiological significance of the peptide in the control of the release of these two hormones, a highly specific antiserum against GRP was injected into the third brain ventricle to immunoneutralize hypothalamic GRP. The injection of the antiserum initially did not alter levels of the hormones; however, both PRL and GH levels in the plasma began to increase within 3 and 3.5 hr, respectively. They were still significantly elevated 24 hr after the injection. There was no change in the plasma levels of either hormone in animals injected intraventricularly with a similar volume of normal rabbit serum (NRS). Mean plasma GH levels 24 hr after antiserum injection were more than twice those of the NRS-injected controls, whereas the PRL concentrations were 14-fold higher in the antiserum injected as compared to the control NRS-injected animals. A second similar injection of antiserum 24 hr after the first administration resulted in a slight and transient further increase in both GH and PRL levels so that they were both significantly (P less than 0.001) higher than those of the animals given a second injection of NRS. The anti-GRP antiserum was highly specific for GRP by radioimmunoassay procedures and this antiserum produced positive immunostaining of GRP neuronal perikarya and terminals within discrete hypothalamic nuclei. Beaded fibers and terminals were observed in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and the area lateral and dorsal to the SCN in the region of the periventricular nucleus (PeVN). GRP-positive perikarya were observed in the parvocellular neurons of the paraventricular nucleus. In addition, GRP-positive cell bodies were observed in the PeVN in close proximity to the third ventricle. Furthermore, the median eminence displayed no immunostaining for GRP, and all traces of positive staining were abolished by preabsorption of the antiserum with GRP-27 (30 micrograms/ml), confirming the specificity of the antiserum. The combined results with immunoneutralization of GRP and the immunostaining of GRP neuronal elements in the hypothalamus support the physiological role of this peptide in the inhibitory control of both GH and PRL release.

The role of brain peptides in neuroimmunomodulation

Since neuroimmunomodulation is brought about in part, at least, by secretion of pituitary hormones involved in stress and immune responses, we review briefly the hypothalamic control of the release of ACTH, growth hormone, and prolactin. The release of ACTH is controlled particularly by corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), but vasopressin has intrinsic releasing activity and potentiates the action of CRF at both hypothalamic and pituitary levels. Oxytocin may even potentiate the action of CRF, but has little, if any, ACTH-releasing activity by itself. In addition, epinephrine may augment responses to the CRFs. In contrast, growth hormone is under dual control by growth-hormone-releasing factor (GRF) and somatostatin, and prolactin is under multifactorial control by a series of inhibitors and stimulators. Dopamine is accepted as a physiological prolactin-inhibiting factor (PIF), but probably GABA and possibly acetylcholine as well are PIFs. There is good evidence for a peptide PIF as well. There are a number of prolactin-releasing factors (PRFs) which include oxytocin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, PHI and TRH. Several other peptides can also release prolactin, including angiotensin II. In response to stress there is a complex interaction of peptides intrahypothalamically. CRF augments its own release by an ultra short-loop positive feedback, and there is negative ultra short-loop feedback of GRF and somatostatin. Vasopressin appears to augment CRF release as well as to act directly on the pituitary, and there are complex interactions of various peptides to influence prolactin and GH release.

Effects of intravenous and intraventricular injection of antisera directed against corticotropin-releasing factor on the secretion of anterior pituitary hormones

To determine the physiological significance of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the control of pituitary hormone secretion, highly specific antibodies directed against the peptide were injected either intravenously or intraventricularly (third ventricle) and the effect on plasma levels of pituitary hormones was determined before and after application of ether stress for 1 min. The intravenous injection of CRF antiserum (0.5 ml) did not significantly alter basal corticotropin (ACTH) levels in freely moving ovariectomized rats but largely blocked the increase in plasma ACTH resulting from ether stress. These antibodies had no effect on the ether-induced decline in plasma growth hormone (GH), and they failed to modify plasma luteinizing hormone levels. In a second experiment, CRF antiserum (3 microliter) or normal rabbit serum was injected into the third ventricle. A blood sample was drawn 24 hr later and immediately thereafter another injection of CRF antiserum or normal rabbit serum was made. There was no modification in the level of any of the hormones 24 hr after the first injections, and they were similar in CRF antiserum and normal rabbit serum-injected animals. After imposition of ether stress, the response of plasma ACTH was nearly completely blocked by the intraventricular CRF antiserum, but the degree of blockade was slightly less than that obtained by intravenous injection. The decline in plasma GH after ether stress was blocked by the intraventricular CRF antiserum. There was no effect of the intraventricular injection of the antiserum on the levels of the other pituitary hormones. The results with intravenous injection of the antisera indicate that CRF plays an extremely important but probably not completely indispensable role in the release of ACTH after ether stress. The results of the intraventricular injection of the antiserum suggest strongly that endogenous CRF may also modify its own release in response to stress, augmenting it by a positive ultrashort loop feedback, and that the antisera against the peptide blocked this action; however, an action at the pituitary of these intraventricularly injected antibodies cannot be completely ruled out. The blockade of the stress-induced suppression of GH release by the CRF antibodies suggests that CRF released intrahypothalamically during ether stress brings about an alteration in the hypothalamic control of GH secretion such that the stress-induced inhibition of GH release is blocked.