ACTH response induced by interleukin-1 is mediated by CRF secretion stimulated by hypothalamic PGE

Abstract

We investigated whether hypothalamic prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) are responsible for the development of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) response induced by interleukin-1α (IL-1α). The present results show that ACTH responses induced by intravenous injection of IL-1α were suppressed by systemic pretreatment with indomethacin and that intrahypothalamic injection of PGE₂ stimulates the secretion of ACTH. Furthermore, systemic pretreatment with anti-CRF antibody significantly suppressed the ACTH response induced by intrahypothalamic injection of PGE₂. These data suggest that the ACTH response induced by IL-1 is mediated by CRF secretion stimulated by hypothalamic PGE₂.