Table 8.
V1aR binding in forebrain regions of non-estrus and estrus, and nulliparous and primiparous Wistar rats. V1aR binding densities were analyzed in non-estrus and estrus Wistar rats. Estrus phase was determined immediately after death, and was based on cell characteristics defined by Goldman et al. (2007). Rats were categorized as being in proestrus/estrus (n=13; cells characteristic of proestrus and estrus phases in which females show higher levels of estradiol and progesterone) or in non-estrus (n=15; cells characteristic of diestrus and metestrus in which females show lower levels of estradiol and progesterone). V1aR binding densities were also analyzed in virgin (nulliparous, n=12) females and females who have gone through one experience of pregnancy and parturition (primiparous, n=16). Brains of primiparous females were processed three weeks post-weaning. Receptor autoradiography was performed as described in the legend of Figure 1. Values indicate means (dpm/mg tissue) ± SEM.
| Region | Non-estrus | Estrus | Nulliparous | Primiparous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nucleus accumbens | 6095 ± 520 | 7683 ± 545 | 6984 ± 711 | 6718 ± 472 |
| Islands of Calleja | 20200 ± 1086 | 20079 ± 991 | 20859 ± 882 | 19656 ± 1047 |
| Somatosensory cortex | 2855 ± 158 | 3265 ± 172 | 2686 ± 127 | 3377 ± 152** |
| Piriform cortex | 9861 ± 397 | 11125 ± 393 | 10022 ± 414 | 10859 ± 406 |
| Nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract | 11444 ± 838 | 13151 ± 691 | 11416 ± 875 | 12885 ± 715 |
| Lateral Septum dorsal | 23587 ± 907 | 23788 ± 883 | 23867 ± 943 | 23558 ± 849 |
| Lateral septum intermediate | 32886 ± 797 | 31686 ± 1310 | 29704 ± 1206 | 33644 ± 988 |
| Lateral septum ventral | 23503 ± 1022 | 24107 ± 963 | 23925 ± 1064 | 23719 ± 938 |
| BNST lateral dorsal | 25469 ± 1183 | 26138 ± 947 | 26119 ± 1043 | 25579 ± 1102 |
| BNST lateral posterior | 12200 ± 789 | 12848 ± 716 | 11451 ± 547 | 13261 ± 751 |
| BNST medial posterior | 20733 ± 1096 | 20625 ± 838 | 19091 ± 784 | 21670 ± 817* |
| Suprachiasmatic nucleus | 18039 ± 1290 | 22722 ± 1507 | 18773 ± 665 | 22027 ± 1714 |
| Interstitial nucleus of the posterior limb of the anterior commissure | 31650 ± 1100 | 32758 ± 981 | 31083 ± 1084 | 33138 ± 940 |
| Anteroventral thalamus | 12454 ± 809 | 12125 ± 815 | 11667 ± 833 | 12746 ± 764 |
| Ventromedial thalamic nucleus | 16580 ± 814 | 15310 ± 593 | 15364 ± 988 | 16309 ± 560 |
| Lateral hypothalamus | 23341 ± 704 | 23378 ± 666 | 22917 ± 871 | 23689 ± 536 |
| Lateral hypothalamus tuberal | 23642 ± 413 | 23951 ± 552 | 23342 ± 483 | 23928 ± 449 |
| Stigmoid hypothalamus | 22036 ± 1251 | 22722 ± 1507 | 21696 ± 1302 | 23515 ± 1056 |
| Arcuate nucleus | 17441 ± 1043 | 16135 ± 644 | 17008 ± 1175 | 16656 ± 658 |
| Dentate gyrus | 7910 ± 360 | 8234 ± 547 | 8082± 524 | 8064 ± 418 |
| Medial central amygdala | 15362 ± 568 | 14242 ± 464 | 15015 ± 583 | 15029 ± 447 |
p=0.0073,
p=0.0035 versus nulliparous, one-way ANOVA correcting for multiple comparisons (FDR α≤0.0085).