The effects of corticotropin-releasing factor and the urocortins on hypothalamic gamma-amino butyric acid release - The impacts on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

► CRFR1 agonists induce the release of GABA from the hypothalamus. ► CRF1 antagonists block the CRF/UCN1-induced release of GABA from the hypothalamus. ► UCN2 and UCN3 do not influence the GABA release from hypothalamic or limbic nuclei. ► Hypothalamic GABA may inhibit directly the HPA axis. ► Limbic GABA may stimulate indirectly the HPA axis.