Long-term expression of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in response to an acute colonic inflammation.

This study examined the long-term effects of an acute colitis on central corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) expression. An increase in CRF mRNA in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) was observed during active colitis, and the effect in the PVN was maintained following recovery. In summary, hypothalamic gene expression of CRF persists in the PVN despite resolution of an acute colitis.