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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Respiratory Parameters after Systemic Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Administration

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Neuroanatomical studies on the distribution of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and its receptors (7) as well as physiological data suggest a regulatory function of endogenous CRH in hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic brain areas [1, 4]. Endogenous CRH acts within the endocrine hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and affects cardiovascular regulation and respiration through extrahypothalamic pathways. CRH also stimulates gluconeogenesis and release of plasma-catecholamines. Our experiments in humans also demonstrate an influence on respiration and on heart rate activity after systemic application of CRH. Respiratory parameters and heart rate were analyzed during steady-state conditions and also under various medications [2, 3] and under CO2-challenge [6]. In order to evaluate whether the effects observed in experimental animals after central application of CRH were also present after peripheral application in man, we focussed our interest on the intraindividual and interindividual changes of minute volume, tidal volume, and on heart rate after systemic CRH-administration. Our findings should provide a deeper insight into mechanisms of neuronal regulation of respiratory and cardiac function. We also intended to find out whether there is a therapeutic effect on disorders of respiratory regulation in humans by CRH. We used two analogues of CRH, human CRH (hCRH) and ovine CRH (oCRH) (Bissendorf Peptide, Wedemark, FRG) with different biological half-life times. We wanted to specify the therapeutic effect of each analogue and to determine possible side effects.