Corticotropin-releasing hormone inhibits lowering of interstitial pressure in rat trachea after neurogenic inflammation.

ABSTRACT

Increased negativity of interstitial fluid pressure (Pif) is a key determinant of edema formation after tissue injury. In this study, we addressed the question of whether the anti-inflammatory effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) shown by others are mediated by changes in interstitial fluid pressure. CRH, 25 to 50, but not 5 and 11 microg/kg s.c., administered 45 min before antidromic stimulation of the vagal nerve inhibited the lowering of interstitial fluid pressure in rat trachea produced by nerve stimulation. This inhibitory effect of CRH was blocked by pretreatment with the CRH receptor antagonist, alpha-helical CRH-(9-41), 0.15 mg/kg i.v., administered 5 min before CRH. These results suggest that CRH receptors modulate the structural integrity of the extracellular matrix in rat trachea for its response to inflammatory stimuli.