Circadian variation in response to CRF-41 and AVP

The diurnal response to ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF-41), arginine vasopressin (AVP), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was studied in rats in which the endogenous release of CRF was blocked by chlorpromazine, morphine sulfate, and pentobarbital sodium. This procedure resulted in a markedly attenuated circadian rhythm at base-line levels of plasma corticosterone and ACTH. Decreased pituitary responsiveness to CRF-41 and AVP at 0400 compared with 1600 was observed. The plasma corticosterone response 30 min after intravenous injection of ovine CRF-41 (0.1 microgram/kg) or AVP (5.0 micrograms/kg) remained nearly constant over the major portion of the 24-h light-dark cycle. However, in the early morning (0400), 2 h before lights on, there was an approximately threefold decrease in response. The time of this decrease in response coincided with the normal decline in the concentrations of plasma corticosterone and ACTH. Rats exposed to constant darkness for 10 days continued to show a significantly greater response to CRF or AVP at 1600 than at 0400. In contrast, rats exposed to constant light for 10 days failed to demonstrate a differential response to CRF or AVP at different times of the day. These results demonstrate that there is a diurnal rhythm in pituitary response to CRF and AVP.