Despite our knowledge on the regulation of urocortin (Ucn) I and its related peptides in the heart, the possible involvement of cardiovascular stress substances, such as cytokines or angiotensin II (Ang II), on this regulation remains to be fully elucidated. We therefore evaluated the potential role of cardiovascular stress substances on the regulation of the Ucn-corticotropin-releasing hormone...

The aims of the study were, in conscious Sprague-Dawley rats, to compare the effects of stresscopin-related peptide (SRP) and urocortin (UCN) 1 on blood pressure, heart rate, and regional hemodynamics; to determine whether or not there were residual tachycardic effects of SRP or UCN1 after cardiac autonomic blockade; and to investigate a possible involvement of corticotropin releasing factor ty...

LPS injected intraperitoneally decreases fasted plasma levels of ghrelin at 3 h postinjection in rats. We characterized the inhibitory action of LPS on plasma ghrelin and whether exogenous ghrelin restores LPS-induced suppression of food intake and gastric emptying in fasted rats. Plasma ghrelin and insulin and blood glucose were measured after intraperitoneal injection of LPS, intravenous inje...

The characteristics of a high-affinity antagonist radioligand are compared with those a high-affinity agonist in binding to the cloned corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 1 (CRF-R1) and type 2 (CRF-R2) and to the native receptors that exist in rat cerebellum and brain stem. The relative potencies of CRF antagonists and agonists to the two types of cloned CRF receptors overexpressed sta...

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and CRF-related neuropeptides have an important role in the central nervous system to mediate behavioral responses to stressors. CRF receptor antagonists are very effective in reversing stress-induced suppression and activation in behavior. An additional CRF-like neuropeptide, urocortin, has been identified in the brain and has a high affinity for the CRF-2 ...