Steroid Dependency of Vasopressin Neurons in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis by in Situ Hybridization

摘要: Abstract Recent immunocytochemical studies have suggested that vasopressin (VP) neurons in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) rat are gonadal steroid sensitive. In this paper we used situ hybridization and quantitative autoradiography to determine whether testosterone (T) and/or it metabolites modulate biosynthetic capacity VP BNST adult male rats. Exp 1 number labeled cells average grains per cell were compared sections sampled throughthe intact, castrated, castrated rats treated with physiological levels T (1.6 ± 0.1 ng/ml plasma). Castration dramatically reduced (P < 0.01) intensity labeling 0.05) BNST. T, treatment animals reversed effect castration on both cell. 2 supraphysiological (7.6 0.7 plasma) increased BNST...