The importance of corticosterone in mediating restraint-induced weight loss in rats

► Restraint stress induces both acute and sustained weight loss in rats. ► Adrenalectomy attenuates acute stress-induced weight loss. ► Stress-induced surges in corticosterone cause acute and sustained weight loss in ADX rats. ► Stress-induced surges in corticosterone do not influence CRF or AVP mRNA in the hypothalamus. ► Stress-induced weight loss is partially dependent on a surge in corticosterone.