Our previous studies indicate that peripheral CRF dose-dependently activates gastric vagal afferent terminals that also respond to gastric distention and nonselective peptide antagonist of CRF (astressin) completely blocks CRF-induced activation of GVAD (SFN, 25, 387.12, 1999). Recent findings suggested, that the nonpeptide antagonist of CRF1 receptors (CP-154,526), administered systemically, antagonizes the stimulatory effects of exogenous CRF on plasma ACTH, locus coeruleus neuronal firing and startle response amplitude (Proc. Natl. Sci. USA, 93, 10477-10482, 1996). Aim: To assess the influence of CRF, sauvagine and selective, nonpeptide antagonist of CRF1 receptor (CP-154,526) injected intravenously (iv) on GVAD. Method: Male SD rats (280-320 g) were anesthetized with urethane and implanted with an intrajugular catheter for iv (0.1 ml) injection. A flexible, latex balloon was placed in the stomach via the incision for gastric distention (GD, 5 ml saline at 37° C). A strand of ventral gastric branch of t...