Corticotropin releasing factor in neuroplasticity

•Early-life experience contributes to plasticity of the neuroendocrine stress system.•The CRF neuron in PVN is a key site of such plasticity via altered excitatory synapses.•The hippocampal CRF neuron releases the peptide locally during stress.•CRF contributes to stress-induced structural and functional hippocampal plasticity.•Chronic early-life stress persistently increases CRF expression in hippocampus.

Stress is among the strongest signals promoting neuroplasticity: Stress signals, indicating real or perceived danger, lead to alterations of neuronal function and often structure, designed to adapt to the changed conditions and promote survival. Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) is expressed and released in several types of neuronal populations that are involved in cognition, emotion and the regulation of autonomic and endocrine function. CRF expressing neurons undergo functional and structural plasticity during stress and, in addition, the peptide acts via specific receptors to promote plasticity of target neurons.