The effects of CRF and urocortins on the sociability of mice.

The aim of our study was to determine the role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), the urocortins (Ucn1, Ucn2 and Ucn3) and their receptors (CRF and CRF) in the sociability of mice. Male CFLP mice were administered intracerebroventricularly (icv) with CRF and urocortins alone or in combination with antalarmin (specific CRF antagonist) and astressin (specific CRF antagonist) and then investigated in a Crawley social interaction test arena, that consists of three chambers. An unknown male in a cage was put in the first chamber and an empty cage was put in the opposite chamber.

The effects of CRF and urocortins on the preference for social novelty of mice.

The aim of the present study was to determine the role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), the urocortins (UCN 1, UCN 2 and UCN 3) and their receptors (CRF and CRF) in the preference for social novelty of mice. Male CFLP mice were administered intracerebroventricularly (ICV) with CRF, UCN 1, UCN 2 or UCN 3 and/or antalarmin or astressin 2B, selective antagonists of CRF receptor and CRF receptor, respectively. The mice were investigated in a Crawley social interaction test arena consisting of three chambers: an unknown female was set in the first chamber and a known female, with which the male was familiarized previously for 24h, was set in the third chamber.