Corticotropin-releasing factor-1 receptors in the basolateral amygdala mediate stress-induced anorexia

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor activation within the basolateral amygdala (BLA) has been relatively unexplored compared with the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), despite the fact that CRF receptors are more densely distributed in BLA than in CeA. The authors show that infusion of CRF into BLA, but not CeA, decreases feeding and increases grooming. These effects are mediated by CRF-sub-1 receptors, because they are blocked by intra-BLA treatment with NBI27914 (NBI), a CRF-sub-1 antagonist, but not Astressin 2B, a CRF-sub-2 antagonist. Exposure to a stressor results in behaviors identical to those seen after intra-BLA CRF infusion. These stress-induced changes are prevented by pre-stress treatment with NBI but not Astressin 2B. These data demonstrate that stimulation of intra-BLA CRF-sub-1 receptors is both necessary and sufficient for eliciting stress-induced anorexia and grooming.