Factors from paraventricular nucleus mediating adrenocorticotropin release in cats

Experiments were conducted in alpha-chloralose-urethan-anesthetized cats. We stimulated the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVH) electrically before and after intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of an antiserum to arginine vasopressin (AVP), one to corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), or one to normal rabbit serum (NRS). Stimulation of the ventral portion of the dorsal PVH led to increases in arterial pressure and heart rate that did not change after any of the icv treatments. However, the effect of each agent on the increases in plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) after stimulation was related to the area of the PVH that was stimulated. The response to stimulation of a rostral area that extended dorsally from the anterior PVH was blocked completely by the anti-AVP but not by anti-CRF or NRS. The response to stimulation of a caudal area located in the dorsal PVH was attenuated after anti-CRF, unchanged after anti-AVP, and augmented after NRS. The antibodies that were given icv were found immunocytochemically to enter the median eminence at sites that include some adjacent to the portal vessels. Immunocytochemical localization of AVP- and of CRF-containing neurons in the PVH showed that the anterior PVH had the highest proportion of AVP neurons in the PVH but had only a few CRF neurons. In contrast, the dorsal PVH contained the highest density of CRF neurons in the PVH as well as some AVP neurons. We suggest that, in the cat, the primary releasing factor for the anterior PVH is AVP and that for the dorsal PVH is CRF.