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GABA[A] receptor level changes in female hamster forebrain following in vivo estrogen progesterone and benzodiazepine treatment: a quantitative autoradiography analysis

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Summary

The levels of gamma amino butyric acid (GABAA) receptors (i.e. 3H-Muscimol binding sites) were determined by quantitative neurotransmitter receptors autoradiography in ovariectomized (OVX), OVX-estradiolo (E), OVX-progesterone (P), OVX-E+P, diazepam (DZ) and DZ + Ro15-1788 treated female hamsters.The various hormonal treatments altered 3H muscimol binding in many brain areas, whereas DZ and DZ + Ro15-1788 had little influence on GABAA receptor levels at the onset of the blocked aggressive behavioral activity. For example, E, P and E+P all significantly increased 3H muscimol binding in medial preoptic area, ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei, and vertical diagonal bandmedial septal nucleus, whereas P treatment increased binding in the caudate-putamen and decreased it in reuniens nucleus of the thalamus. E and E+P treatments increased 3H muscimol binding in the corticomedial amygdala nucleus and hippocampus. Diazepam treatment decreased the GABAA receptor binding in the caudate-putamen and basolateral amygdala, while having no effect in the other brain regions where hormone treatment was effective. In vitro incubation of brain sections with micromolar concentrations of E or P did not change muscimol binding. These results suggest that ovarian steroids, and benzodiazepines to a lesser extent, modulate 3H muscimol binding but do so in different brain regions. The hormone effects on 3H muscimol binding in the critical reproductive centres at a time period that coincides with the onset of its behavioral effect is consistent with a genomic controlled activity.

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Author notes

  1. M. Canonaco

    Present address: Laboratoria di Zoologia, Università della Calabria, Via J.F. Kennedy, Roges di Rende, I-87036, Cosenza, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Rockefeller University, 10021-6399, New York, NY, USA

    M. Canonaco, D. W. Pfaff & B. S. McEwen

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, St. Louis, MI, USA

    L. H. O'Connor

Authors
  1. M. Canonaco
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  2. L. H. O'Connor
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  3. D. W. Pfaff
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  4. B. S. McEwen
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Canonaco, M., O'Connor, L.H., Pfaff, D.W. et al. GABA[A] receptor level changes in female hamster forebrain following in vivo estrogen progesterone and benzodiazepine treatment: a quantitative autoradiography analysis. Exp Brain Res 75, 644–652 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00249916

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00249916

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