ROLE OF CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING FACTOR (CRF) AS A FOOD-INTAKE REGULATOR IN GOLDFISH

The effect of intraperitoneal or intracerebroventricular corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) administration on food intake has been studied in goldfish after 24 h of food deprivation. Food intake was evaluated at different time periods after injection, 0-2, 2-8, and 0-8 h. The 1 and 2 mug doses of CRF intracerebroventricutarly administered induced a reduction in food intake during the first 2 h, although an increased feeding was observed in the next 6 h. The higher dose of CRF used in this study (3.3 mug) increased cumulative food intake at 8 h postinjection. However, intraperitoneal injection of 1 mug CRF did not modify food intake in any of the studied intervals. These results suggest thal CRF may play a role in central regulation of feeding behavior intake in goldfish, and show that CRF effects are time- and dose-dependent.