Effect of the serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine on corticotropin-releasing factor and vasopressin secretion into hypophysial portal blood.

The relative role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) in mediating serotonin-induced ACTH secretion was studied using the serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine. Fluoxetine caused a significant increase in ACTH and AVP concentrations in peripheral plasma as well as a significant increase in CRF and AVP concentrations in hypophysial portal plasma. The data suggest that increased secretion of ACTH induced by fluoxetine is mediated, at least in part, by an increase in the hypothalamic secretion of both CRF and AVP.