The Role of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF) and CRF-Related Peptides in the Social Behavior of Rodents.

Since the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) was isolated from an ovine brain, a growing family of CRF-related peptides has been discovered. Today, the mammalian CRF system consists of four ligands (CRF, urocortin 1 (Ucn1), urocortin 2 (Ucn2), and urocortin 3 (Ucn3)); two receptors (CRF receptor type 1 (CRF1) and CRF receptor type 2 (CRF2)); and a CRF-binding protein (CRF-BP). Besides the regulation of the neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral responses to stress, CRF and CRF-related peptides are also involved in different aspects of social behavior.

Endocrine studies in cystinosis: compensated primary hypothyroidism.

Children with nephropathic cystinosis exhibit marked growth retardation. Improved medical management and renal transplantation have increased their life expectancy beyond the second decade. We have studied endocrine function in seven patients with cystinosis and reviewed autopsy findings of four patients and medical records of 24 others.

Receptors for peptide hormones. New insights into the pathophysiology of disease states in man.

The first step in the action of polypeptide hormones and many neurotransmitters is binding to receptor sites on the plasma membrane of the cell. These receptors are usually complex, high molecular weight proteins. Using a variety of receptor preparations and radioactively labeled hormones, radioreceptor assays for several hormones have been developed.

Nonsuppressible insulin-like activity of human serum. A potent inhibitor of insulin degradation.

Nonsuppressible insulin-like activity soluble in acid ethanol (NSILA-s) is a well-characterized peptide derived from human serum which has previously been shown to have insulin-like bioactivity and react with both insulin and NSILA-s receptor sites in liver plasma membranes. In the present study we find that NSILA-s is also a potent competitive inhibitor of the insulin-degrading system of the liver plasma membrane. The most purified NSILA-s preparation tested was 20-fold more potent than insulin itself, and significant inhibition of insulin degradation occurred at concentrations of NSILA-s similar to those found in plasma.

The NSILA-s receptor in liver plasma membranes. Characterization and comparison with the insulin receptor.

NSILA-s (nonsuppressible insulin-like activity, soluble in acid ethanol) is a serum peptide that has insulin-like and growth-promoting activities. We have demonstrated previously that liver plasma membranes possess separate receptors for NSILA-s and insulin and have characterized the insulin receptor in detail. In the present study we have characterized the properties and specificity of the NSILA-s receptor and compared them to those of the insulin receptor in the same tissue.

Circulating NSILA-s in man: Preliminary studies of stimuli in vivo and of binding to plasma components.

The insulin-like peptide NSILA-s (non-suppressible insulin-like activity soluble in acid ethanol) was measured in plasma using gel filtration in acid and a new radioreceptor assay. Total plasma NSILA-s levels, which are elevated in some patients with extrapancreatic tumors and hypoglycemia, were also found to be elevated in pregnancy. Patients with hypopituitarism had subnormal concentrations of total plasma NSILA-s which rose promptly and reached a peak 1 h after intravenous hGH.