Peripheral administration of CRF and urocortin: effects on food intake and the HPA axis in the marsupial Sminthopsis crassicaudata

The hypothalamic peptides corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) and urocortin (UCN) decrease food intake and increase energy expenditure when administered either centrally or peripherally to rodents. The effects of CRF and UCN on food intake in other mammals (for example marsupials), however, are not known. Peripherally administered CRF induced cortisol release in the marsupial Sminthopsis crassicaudata via the CRF1 receptor, and central CRF administration potently decreased food intake, as in rodents. When peripherally administered, both CRF and UCN decreased food intake in S. crassicaudata, but UCN was considerably more potent ( approximately 50 fold) in this regard. The anorectic effects of CRF and UCN were not blocked by the CRF1 receptor antagonist antalarmin, suggesting that the peripheral effects of CRF and UCN on food intake are mediated primarily by the CRF2 receptor.