Hypothalamic CRF-like immunoreactivity in the rat after hypophysectomy or adrenalectomy

Hypothalamic CRF-like immunoreactivity was measured in normal, hypophysectomized or adrenalectomized adult male rats. As expected, adrenalectomy resulted in decreased levels in plasma corticosterone and increased plasma levels of ACTH; hypophysectomy resulted in decreased levels in both corticosterone and ACTH. The hypothalamic content of CRF-like immunoreactivity in animals two weeks post-hypophysectomy or adrenalectomy was approximately seven times greater than that found in intact animals. At one week, post-surgery, small but statistically significant decreases in content of CRF-like immunoreactivity were observed. The results at one week are consistent with removal of feedback effects of ACTH and corticosterone causing increased release of CRF and decreased content. The increase in CRF-like immunoreactivity two weeks post-surgery is probably not related to direct feedback effects on release but may be due to increased synthesis secondary to long term removal of feedback inhibition.