Inhibition of estrous behavior in rats by intrahypothalamic application of agents that disrupt nuclear binding of estrogen-receptor complexes

This study tested the hypothesis that estrogen facilitation of reproductive behavior in female rats requires the binding of estrogen-receptor complexes to the genomic components of hypothalamic cell nuclei. Female rats were implanted stereotaxically with bilateral guide cannulae aimed at the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH). Animals were ovariectomized following recovery from the implant surgery and randomly assigned to receive one of four drug treatments: actinomycin-D, ethidium bromide, netropsin, or 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. Each female received at least two tests for estrous behavior 48 hr after estrogen priming. On one test, drug-filled cannulae were lowered into the VMH 1 hr prior to a subcutaneous injection of 2-3 micrograms of estradiol benzoate (EB); on the other test blank cannulae were inserted 1 hr prior to EB treatment. Intracranial administration of all four compounds, which disrupt estrogen-receptor binding to hypothalamic nuclei, inhibited both the quantity and the quality of lordosis responses to systemic injections of EB. The results support the hypothesis that specific receptor interactions with the genome of hypothalamic cells mediate estrogen facilitation of estrous behavior in female rats.