CRF
Also known as: corticotropin-releasing factor, CRH, corticotropin-releasing hormone
Hypothalamic peptide that triggers the HPA axis stress response; studied in anxiety, depression, and PTSD models.
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Overview
Protein family
Corticotropin-releasing factor family, CRF family is a family of related neuropeptides in vertebrates. This family includes corticotropin-releasing hormone, urotensin-I, urocortin, and sauvagine. The family can be grouped into 2 separate paralogous lineages, with urotensin-I, urocortin and sauvagine in one group and CRH forming the other group. Urocortin and sauvagine appear to represent orthologues of fish urotensin-I in mammals and amphibians, respectively. The peptides have a variety of physiological effects on stress and anxiety, vasoregulation, thermoregulation, growth and metabolism, metamorphosis and reproduction in various species, and are all released as prohormones.
Mechanism of Action
Corticotropin-releasing factor family, CRF family is a family of related neuropeptides in vertebrates. This family includes corticotropin-releasing hormone, urotensin-I, urocortin, and sauvagine. The family can be grouped into 2 separate paralogous lineages, with urotensin-I, urocortin and sauvagine in one group and CRH forming the other group. Urocortin and sauvagine appear to represent orthologues of fish urotensin-I in mammals and amphibians, respectively. The peptides have a variety of physiological effects on stress and anxiety, vasoregulation, thermoregulation, growth and metabolism, metamorphosis and reproduction in various species, and are all released as prohormones.
What Researchers Are Saying
Community Reports - Not Medical Advice
The following is aggregated from public forums, Reddit, and research communities. These are anecdotal reports from researchers only - not verified clinical data and not a recommendation of any kind.
CRF (also known as corticotropin-releasing factor, CRH) is studied within the cognitive function and neuroprotection research community. Hypothalamic peptide that triggers the HPA axis stress response; studied in anxiety, depression, and PTSD models.
Last updated October 28, 2026
Research status: active. CRF appears across cognitive function and neuroprotection research forums and academic literature. Researchers note this compound falls in the cognitive category.
Last updated October 28, 2026
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