ROLE OF CENTRAL CATECHOLAMINES IN THE MODULATION OF CORTICOTROPHIN-RELEASING FACTOR mRNA DURING ADJUVANT-INDUCED ARTHRITIS IN THE RAT

The development of adjuvant-induced arthritis in the rat is associated with an activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. In the Piebald-Viral-Glaxo strain of rat there is however a paradoxical decrease in corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) mRNA in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and a decrease in CRF-41 peptide release into the hypophysial portal blood with increasing severity of disease. In the present study we have investigated the role of endogenous catecholamines within the PVN as possible inhibitory factors acting on CRF neurons during adjuvantinduced arthritis. Noradrenaline (NA) concentrations were approximately doubled in the PVN of arthritic animals