CRH and colitis: Up-to-date, taken together, it is understandable that CRH, as both a centrally active endocrine hormone and peripherally active peptide, may play an important role in colitis and CAC via both indirect actions regulating chronic stress and direct peripheral effects, although there still lack experimental evidences showing direct relationship between central CRH effect and colitis/CAC and only a few investigations show the direct peripheral effects of CRH on CAC.