Convergent effects of oxytocin and a delta-opioid agonist in the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis of the peripartum rat.
In the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BST), opioids may suppress the facilitatory effect of oxytocin on its own release pre-partum. In vitro electrophysiological recording showed that in virgin, late-pregnant, and lactating rats, a delta-opioid agonist inhibited a high proportion of BST neurons, many of which were also oxytocin responsive. Response magnitude did not differ significantly between groups, suggesting that the postulated pre-partum increase in opioid tone does not involve postsynaptic changes in neuronal sensitivity.
Department of Biology, Acadia University, B4P 2R6, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada. brian.wilson@acadiau.ca
B C
BC
Wilson
C D
CD
Ingram
D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D016308:Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000819:agonists*; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D010121:Oxytocin; D016308:Enkephalin, Leucine-2-Alanine