Correlation of neuroendocrine and anti-edema activities of alanine-corticotropin-releasing factor analogs.

Thirty-three ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) analogs, systematically substituted with alanine (Ala) residues, were tested for inhibitory activity on edema induced in the pentobarbital-anesthetized rat paw by heat (immersion in 58 degrees C water for 1 min). The activity of each analog, administered 0.1 mg/kg i.v. 10 min before heat, was compared to the rank order of the analog's potency in stimulating adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) release from cultured rat pituicytes. A strong positive rank correlation was found between the anti-edema and neuroendocrine activities of these analogs.