EEG stability following corticotropin releasing factor in rats.

The EEG and behavioral effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of low doses of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) (0.0015 and 0.015 nM) were studied in rats. Compared to saline injections, CRF produced a significant increase in the 'stability' of EEG waveforms over time in several frequency bands. The behavioral effects of CRF were consistent with previous reports of CRF-induced arousal and autonomic activation without frank increases in locomotion. These studies suggest that measures of EEG stability should be investigated as a potential biologic correlate in diseases wherein hypercortisolism associated with CRF release is a prominent feature.