The potential role that dopaminergic mechanisms have in the regulation of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the hypothalamus was investigated. Adult male rats were administered bromocriptine, a potent dopamine agonist, for periods ranging up to 51 days. Overall, bromocriptine treatment resulted in a significant decline in CRF-like immunoreactivity (CRF-ir). The dopamine antagonist, haloperidol, was administered for similar periods and resulted in no overall significant effect, except for a transient decrease. Treatment with reserpine, known to deplete monoamines including dopamine, induced a significant decrease in CRF-ir 24 h post-treatment. The possibility that the original results were due to α-adrenergic inhibition by bromocriptine and haloperidol was studied next. α1-Stimulation by administration of methoxamine had no significant effect. α2-Stimulation by clonidine significantly reduced hypothalamic CRF-ir. Selective depletion of neurotransmitter from noradrenergic and adrenergic neurons by 6-hydroxydopamine also resulted in a significant reduction of hypothalamic CRF-ir, an effect localized entirely to the median eminence. These results show a reduction in CRF-ir subsequent to either bromocriptine administration, generalized monoamine depletion, α2-stimulation, or selective noradrenaline–adrenaline depletion. No direct dopaminergic effects could be confirmed. These data are consistent with a constant, near-maximal α1-adrenergic effect maintaining hypothalamic CRF concentrations, presumably by inhibition of CRF release from the median eminence.
