Induction of bradycardia in trout by centrally administered corticotropin-releasing-hormone (CRH)

The cardiovascular effects of centrally and peripherally administered synthetic salmon corticotropin-releasing-hormone (CRH), a member of a family of stress-related neuropeptides, were investigated in the unanesthetized trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. In group 1, trout bearing a cannula in the dorsal aorta, neither intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) nor intra-arterial (i.a.) injections of CRH produced any significant change in mean heart rate (HR) and mean dorsal aortic blood pressure. These results stand in contrast to the previously reported hypertensive effects of i.a. and i.c.v. injections of trout urotensin-I. In group 2, non-cannulated trout bearing two subcutaneous electrocardiographic electrodes, conditions that are considered to be less stressful to the animals, the baseline level of HR was significantly reduced compared to the corresponding value for cannulated trout. In these trout, no significant change occurred in the HR after i.c.v. administration of 1 pmol of CRH. However, i.c.v. injection of 5 pmol of CRH caused a 12% ( P