Effect of CRF, ACTH and adrenal steroids on sodium intake and excretion of rabbits.

The effect of CRF, ACTH and adrenal steroid hormones on the sodium intake and excretion of wild and laboratory rabbits was studied in our laboratory in detail. All these hormones are known to play important roles in the initiation and maintenance of stress-reaction. Intracerebroventricular (icv) infusion of CRF increased both sodium intake and excretion of rabbits on the day of the infusion, and the stimulated sodium turnover persisted for several days after the infusion stopped. Systemic administration of the same dose of CRF did not influence sodium intake or excretion. Icv infusion of CRF was accompanied by a rise in plasma cortisol and plasma corticosterone concentration. Plasma sodium concentration was unchanged despite the increased turnover. The elevated plasma concentration of adrenal steroid hormones indicates that icv infused CRF resulted in ACTH and consequent cortisol and corticosterone release. Earlier studies in our laboratory established that ACTH, and similarly cortisol and corticosterone, when injected systemically, also elicited increased sodium intake, which was accompanied by increased sodium excretion. The rise in sodium turnover occurred on the second or third day of ACTH or steroid administration. The difference in the time of onset of sodium appetite between icv CRF and ACTH or adrenal steroids indicates that CRF influences sodium intake by other mechanisms as well. These other contributing mechanisms are probably activated by the binding of CRF to the specific binding sites demonstrated earlier in the rabbit's brain. Its is possible, that the small natriuresis accompanying icv infusion of CRF has some role in the initiation of the sodium appetite.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)