Prolonged estrogen treatment induces changes in opiate, benzodiazepine and beta-adrenergic binding sites in female rat hypothalamus.
Exposure of the rat brain to estradiol is known to modify certain neurotransmitter binding sites. We have now examined the influence of long-term (3 months) treatment with this steroid. Opiate and benzodiazepine receptors are both elevated in hypothalamus but not in amygdala or cerebral cortex. In contrast, the affinity, but not maximum binding, of hypothalamic beta-adrenergic sites is reduced 5-fold. Our results confirm and extend previous reports that hypothalamic neurotransmitter binding sites are particularly sensitive to estrogen feedback.
D000679:Amygdala / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000187:drug effects; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D004082:Dihydroalprenolol / Q000378:metabolism; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000378:metabolism*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D009270:Naloxone; D004958:Estradiol; D004082:Dihydroalprenolol; D005445:Flunitrazepam