Abstract
Since the cloning of corticotropin releasing hormone receptor type 1 (CRH-R1), an essential component of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, numerous studies have been conducted to monitor its changes in transcription levels under various conditions. However, the precise dynamics at the protein levels are yet to be elucidated. In the present study we aimed at establishing an RIA system for CRH-R1 protein, with an antiserum against the C-terminal fragment of human/rat CRH-R1. The generated antiserum showed a moderate cross-reactivity with CRH-R2. We examined the in vivo effect of adrenalectomy (ADX) on immunoreactive CRH-R (irCRH-R) levels in the rat AP, and the in vitro profile of irCRH-R levels in cultured rat AP cells after administration of CRH. The irCRH-R in the AP membrane of intact rats was 51.8 ± 6.8 fmol/mg protein, which is comparable to those reported in binding studies. ADX elicited a significant decrease of irCRH-R to approximately 50% of the control level one day after ADX, which returned to the baseline level the following day. Addition of CRH to cultured AP cells resulted in a significant decrease of irCRH-R in the membrane fraction to 18% of the control level at 4 h, and it returned rapidly to 70% at 8 h. These experiments together with our previous study implicate that irCRH-R makes a different profile, with an earlier recovery than that of mRNA. Although this system cannot precisely discriminate between CRH-R1 and CRH-R2, our findings may serve to demonstrate differing CRH receptor regulations at the synthesis level and at the protein level in the rat AP.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chen R, Lewis KA, Perrin MH, Vale WW. Expression cloning of a human corticotropin-releasing-factor receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1993;90:8967-8971.
Perrin MH, Donaldson CJ, Chen R, Lewis KA, Vale WW. Cloning and functional expression of a rat brain corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) receptor. Endocrinology 1993;133:3058-3061.
Lovenberg TW, Liaw CW, Grigoriadis DE, Clevenger W, Chalmers DT, De Souza EB, Oltersdorf T. Cloning and characterization of a functionally distinct corticotropin-releasing factor receptor subtype from rat brain. [published erratum appears in Proc Nail Acad Sci USA 1995;92:5759] Proc NatI Acad Sci USA 1995;92:836-840.
Kostich WA, Chen A, Sperle, Largent BL. Molecular identification and analysis of a novel human corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor. The CRF2gamma receptor. Mol Endocrinol 1998;12:1077-1085.
Dieterich KD, Grigoriadis DE, De Souza EB. Corticotropin-releasing factor receptors in human small cell lung carcinoma cells: Radioligand binding, second messenger, and northern blot analysis data. Endocrinology 1994;135:1551-1558.
Potter E, Sutton S, Donaldson C, Chen R, Perrin M, Lewis K, Sawchenko PE, Vale W. Distribution of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor mRNA expression in the rat brain and pituitary. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1994;91:8777-8781.
Luo X, Kiss A, Rabadan-Diehl C, Aguilera G. Regulation of hypothalamic and pituitary corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor messenger ribonucleic acid by adrenalectomy and glucocorticoids. Endocrinology 1995;136:3877-3883.
Sakai K, Horiba N, Sakai Y, Tozawa F, Demura H, Suda T. Regulation of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor messenger ribonucleic acid in rat anterior pituitary. Endocrinology 1996;137:1758-1763.
Kahn CR, Smith R, Chin WW. Mechanisms of action of hormones that act at the cell surface. In: Wilson JD, Foster DW, Kronenberg HM, Larsen PR eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, 9th ed. Saunders, 1997:95-144.
Nishimura E, Billestrup N, Perrin M, Vale W. Identification and characterization of a pituitary corticotropin-releasing factor binding protein by chemical cross-linking. J Biol Chem 1987;262:12893-12896.
Grigoriadis DE, De Souza EB. The brain corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor is of lower apparent molecular weight than the CRF receptor in anterior pituitary. Evidence from chemical cross-linking studies. J Biol Chem 1988;263:10927-10931.
Grigoriadis DE, De Souza EB. Heterogeneity between brain and pituitary corticotropin-releasing factor receptors is due to differential glycosylation. Endocrinology 1989;125:1877-1888.
Wynn PC, Aguilera G, Morell J, Catt KJ. Properties and regulation of high-affinity pituitary receptors for corticotropin-releasing factor. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1983;110:602-608.
Wynn PC, Harwood JP, Catt KJ, Aguilera G. Regulation of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors in the rat pituitary gland: Effect of adrenalectomy on CRF receptors and corticotroph responses. Endocrinology 1985;116:1653-1659.
Potter E, Behan DP, Fischer WH, Linton EA, Lowry PJ, Vale WW. Cloning and characterization of the cDNAs for human and rat corticotropin releasing factor-binding proteins. Nature 1991;349:423-426.
Pozzoli G, Bilezikjian LM, Perrin MH, Blount AL, Vale WW. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and glucocorticoids modulate the expression of type 1 CRF receptor messenger ribonucleic acid in rat anterior pituitary cell cultures. Endocrinology 1996;137:65-71.
Mellado M, Fernandez Agull T, Rodriguez Frade, JM, San Frutos MG, de la Peua P, Martinez AC, Montoya E. Expression analysis of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor (TRHR) in the immune system using agonist anti-TRHR monoclonal antibodies. FEBS Lett 1999;451:308-314.
Karande AA, Rajeshwari K, Schol DJ, Hilgers JH. Establishment of immunological probes to study human gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors. Mol Cell Endocrinol 1995;114:51-56.
Radulovic J, Sydow S, Spiess J. Characterization of native corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 1 (CRFR1) in the rat and mouse central nervous system. J Neurosci Res 1998;54:507-521.
Chalmers DT, Lovenberg TW, De Souza EB. Localiztion of novel corticotropin-releasing factor receptor (CRFR2) mRNA expression to specific subcortical nuclei in rat brain: Comparison with CRF1 receptor mRNA expression. J Neurosci 1995;15:6340-6350
Muller MB, Preil J, Renner U, Zimmermann S, Kresse AE, Stalla GK, Keck ME, Holsboer F, Wurst W. Expression of CRHR1 and CRHR2 in mouse pituitary and adrenal gland. Implication for HPA system regulation. Endocrinology 2001;142:4150-4153.
Stenzel P, Kesterson R, Yeung W, Cone RD, Rittenberg MB, Stenzel-Poore MP. Identification of a novel murine receptor for corticotropin-releasing hormone expressed in the heart. Mol Endocrinol 1995;9:637-645.
Kageyama K, Li C, Vale WW. Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor type 2 messenger ribonucleic acid in rat pituitary: Localization and regulation by immune challenge, restraint stress, and glucocorticoids. Endocrinology 2003;144:1524-1532.
Potter E, Behan DP, Linton EA, Lowry PJ, Sawchenko PE, Vale WW. The central distribution of a corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-binding protein predicts multiple sites and modes of interaction with CRE Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1992;89:4192-4196.
Grino M, Guillaume V, Castanas E, Boudouresque F, Conte Devoix B, Oliver C. Effect of passive immunization against corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) on the postadrenalectomy changes of CRF binding sites in the rat anterior pituitary gland. Neuroendocrinology 1987;45:492-497.
Wynn PC, Harwood JP, Catt KJ, Aguilera G. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) induces desensitization of the rat pituitary CRF receptor-adenylate cyclase complex. Endocrinology 1988;122:351-358.
Kasagi Y, Horiba N, Sakai K, Fukuda Y, Suda T. Involvement of cAMP-response element binding protein in corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-induced down-regulation of CRF receptor 1 gene expression in rat anterior pituitary cells. JNeuroendocrinol 2002; 14:587-592.
Oakley RH, Holt JA, Barak LS, Caron MG. Molecular determinants underlying the formation of stable intracellular G protein-coupled receptor-beta-arrestin complexes after receptor endocytosis. J Biol Chem 2001;276:19452-19460.
Oakley RH, Holt JA, Barak LS, Caron MG. Association of beta-arrestin with G protein-coupled receptor during clathrin-mediated endocytosis dictates the profile of receptor resensitization. J Biol Chem 1999;271:32248-32257.
Chauvin S, Bencsik M, Bambino T, Nissenson RA. Parathyroid hormone receptor recycling: Role of receptor dephosphorylation and ?-arrestin. Mol Endocrinol 2002; first published September 12, 2002 as doi: 10.1210/me.2002-0049.
Hauger RL, Smith RD, Braun S, Dautzenberg FM, Catt K. Rapid agonist-induced phosphorylation of the human CRF receptor, type 1: A potential mechanism for homologous desensitization. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2000;268:572-576.
Timpl P, Spanagel R, Sillaber I, Kresse A, Reul JMHM, Stalla GK, Blanquet V, Steckler T, Holsboer F, Wurst W. Impaired stress response and reduced anxiety in mice lacking a functional corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1. Nature Genetics 1998;19:162-166.
Contarino A, Dellu F, Koob F, Smith GW, Lee KF, Vale W, Gold LH. Reduced anxiety-like and cognitive performance in mice lacking the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1. Brain Res 1999;835:1-9.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nigawara, T., Horiba, N., Tozawa, F. et al. Regulation of Corticotropin Releasing Hormone Receptor (CRH-R) in the Rat Anterior Pituitary as Assessed by Radioimmunoassay. Pituitary 6, 67–73 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PITU.0000004796.71734.e4
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PITU.0000004796.71734.e4