Corticotropin-releasing hormone inhibits in vitro oocyte maturation in mice

The expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) receptor 1 messenger RNA in stages of follicle growth was examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in long-term cultures of early preantral mouse follicles with and without CRH addition. Corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 is present in stages of mouse follicle growth, whereas 10−9, 10−7, and 10−6 mol/L CRH inhibits oocyte maturation in vitro, an effect reversed by antalarmin addition.