A decrease of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) concentration has been reported in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The present study further examined the role of CRF in an animal model of parkinsonism induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Results indicated that both subchronic (2 days) and chronic (7 days) MPTP treatments decreased the number of CRF immunoreactive neurons in both the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus and the central nuelcus of the amygdala (ACN). This effect lasted for almost a month after withdrawal of chronic MPTP injections. In addition, nomifensine pretreatment protected against MPTP's toxicity on DA neurons, as assessed by tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the substantia nigra. However, the same treatment did not prevent the toxicity of MPTP on CRF neurons. Further, no significant difference was notable in the number of CRF immunoreactive neurons between normal young adult and normal middle-aged rats in both the PVN and the ACN. These results suggest that MPTP also produces a neurotoxicity on CRF neurons, and this effect is not secondary to MPTP's effect on DA neurons. Besides, altered CRF neuronal activity is involved in the process of pathological ageing, but not physiological ageing. Further, reduced CRF immunoreactivity in the PVN and ACN may imply alterations of neuroendocrine, autonomic as well as central functions caused by MPTP.