CRF receptors in the rodent and human cardiovascular systems: Species differences

CRF has powerful receptor-mediated cardiovascular actions. To evaluate the precise distribution of CRF receptors, in vitro CRF receptor autoradiography with 125I-[Tyr0, Glu1, Nle17]-sauvagine or [125I]-antisauvagine-30 was performed in the rodent and human cardiovascular system. An extremely high density of CRF2 receptors was detected with both tracers in vessels of rodent lung, intestine, pancreas, mesenterium, kidney, urinary bladder, testis, heart, brain, and in heart muscle. In humans, CRF2 receptors were detected with 125I- antisauvagine-30 at low levels in vessels of kidneys, intestine, urinary bladder, testis, heart and in heart muscle, while only heart vessels were detected with 125I-[Tyr0, Glu1, Nle17]-sauvagine. This is the first extensive morphological study reporting the extremely wide distribution of CRF2 receptors in the rodent cardiovascular system and a more limited expression in man, suggesting a species-selective CRF receptor expression.