Stress, corticotropin-releasing factor, and drug addiction

The neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRE) and related neuropeptides not only mediate hormonal responses to stressors but also have a neurotropic role in the central nervous system to mediate behavioral responses to stressors. CRF antagonists effectively block CRF responses and have effects opposite those of CRF in many stress-related situations. Recent advances suggest that in addition to CRF itself there is another CRF-related neuropeptide, urocortin, that may be involved in stress-related responses, particularly those involving appetite. At least two CRF receptors have been discovered to date, CRF-1 and CRF-2. CRF may be involved in various aspects of the addiction cycle associated with drugs of abuse. CRF appears to be activated during stress-induced reinstatement of drug taking as well as acute withdrawal from all major drugs of abuse. CRF is hypothesized to be part of an allostatic change leading to vulnerability to relapse during prolonged abstinence from drugs of abuse.