Article1989

Anatomical Localization of the Effects of 17β-Estradiol on Oxytocin Receptor Binding in the Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus*

Allan E. Johnson · Héctor Coirini · Gregory F. Ball · Bruce S. McEwen

94 citations0/0 files storedEndocrinology

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Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior Estrogen and related hormone effects Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones

Abstract

Oxytocin (OT) neurotransmission plays a role in the facilitation of steroid-dependent sexual receptivity in the rat. One way in which the ovarian steroid 17 beta-estradiol (E2) has been shown to modulate OT transmission is by increasing OT receptor binding in certain brain areas involved in the regulation of female sexual behavior such as the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMN). This study was undertaken to describe the distribution of OT receptors within the VMN that are regulated by physiological levels of E2. With quantitative autoradiographic methods, we measured [3H]OT binding in ovariectomized female rats implanted with Silastic capsules containing cholesterol, 5% E2, or 100% E2. In addition, plasma E2 levels, pituitary progestin receptor binding, and uterine weights were measured in animals from each treatment group. Results of this study showed that physiological levels of E2 increased [3H]OT binding in caudal regions of the ventrolateral VMN and stimulated maximal uterine growth and pituitary progestin receptor binding. However, in more rostral VMN sections, E2 induced a dose-dependent increase in [3H]OT binding. These data suggest that ovarian steroids sensitize the brain to OT by increasing OT receptor binding in certain brain areas involved in the regulation of sexual receptivity.

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References

1978Intra- and extrahypothalamic vasopressin and oxytocin pathways in the rat 1988Localization and pharmacological characterization of high affinity binding sites for vasopressin and oxytocin in the rat brain by light microscopic autoradiography 1979Oxytocin Receptors: Triggers for Parturition and Lactation?1986Oxytocin facilitates the sexual receptivity of estrogen-treated female rats 2008Estradiol Modulates Density of Putative Oxytocin Receptors’ in Discrete Rat Brain Regions 1987Pharmacological characteristics and anatomical distribution of [3H]oxytocin-binding sites in the wistar rat brain studied by autoradiography 1985Oxytocin stimulates lordosis behavior in female rats 1985Estradiol induces oxytocin binding sites in rat hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus

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