Summary
Delta-sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP, 10-9-10-7M) significantly inhibited the CRF-induced ACTH release from rat anterior pituitary
quarters in vitro. 10-8M DSIP showed the most prominent inhibition. DSIP (10-8M) also inhibited the CRF-activated cAMP levels in anterior pituitary tissue. DSIP
did not influence basal ACTH or cAMP levels. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-release from anterior pituitary quarters was not changed by DSIP. From these results,
we conclude that DSIP inhibits CRF-induced ACTH release at the pituitary level through
the inhibition of the cAMP system in corticotrophs. The involvement of PGE2 in this phenomenon is unlikely.