Anti-depressant effects of corticotropin release inhibiting factor

Abstract

Methods and compositions for treatment of depression in animals are provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating a depressive disorder in an animal, said method comprising administering to said animal a compound having CRIF biological activity.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound is a peptide.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound is a peptidometic.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound is in a therapeutically effective amount.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound is in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said animal is a human.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound is administered to said animal by a route selected from the group consisting of oral, parenteral, intranasal and central.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said peptide is a CRIF peptide comprising at least three amino acids positioned between the fourth and fifth TRH peptide on a prepro-TRH molecule.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said CRIF peptide comprises from three to twenty two amino acids positioned between the fourth and fifth TRH peptide on a prepro-TRH molecule.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said CRIF peptide comprises the sequence Phe-Ile-Asp-Pro-Glu-Leu-Gln-Arg-Ser-Trp-Glu-Glu-Lys-Glu-Gly-Glu-Gly-Val-Leu-Met-Pro-Glu.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said CRIF peptide comprises the sequence Phe-Ile-Asp-Pro-Glu-Leu-Gln-Arg-Ser-Trp-Glu-Glu-Thr-Glu-Gly-Glu-Glu-Gly-Gly-Leu-Met-Pro-Glu.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said CRIF peptide comprises the sequence Glu-Gly-Glu-Gly-Val-Leu-Met-Pro-Glu.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said CRIF peptide comprises the sequence Leu-Met-Pro-Glu.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said CRIF peptide comprises from three to twenty six amino acids positioned between the fourth and fifth TRH peptide on a prepro-TRH molecule.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said CRIF peptide comprises the sequence Leu-Ala-Asp-Pro Lys-Ala-Gln-Arg-Ser-Trp-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Arg-Glu-Glu-Asp-Leu-Met-Pro-Glu.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said depressive disorder is selected from the group consisting of major depression, minor depression, bipolar disorders, disthymia, cyclothymia, and premenstrual syndrome.