Binding sites for corticotropin releasing factor in sensory areas of the rat hindbrain and spinal cord.

Binding sites of 125I-Tyr-O-ovine corticotropin releasing factor have been demonstrated in sensory areas of the rat hindbrain and spinal cord mainly in the posterior part of the nucleus tractus solitarii, the substantia gelatinosa nervi trigemini and the superficial layers of the spinal cord (laminae I and II). Specific binding was inhibited in the presence of unlabeled synthetic ovine or rat/human CRF indicating that the receptors recognize both forms of CRF.