Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 308, Issue 1, 6 August 1984, Pages 172-176
Brain Research

The sexually dimorphic region of the preoptic area in rats contains denser opiate receptor binding sites in females

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(84)90932-6Get rights and content

Abstract

Quantitative autoradiographic analysis of opiate receptor binding using [3H]naloxone shows higher levels in the sexually dimorphic region of the medial preoptic area in female rats than in males. Opiate receptor density varies across the estrous cycle being densest in diestrous females. The sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic are lies within the opiate receptor-rich region. Endogenous opiates in the medial preoptic region acting at opiate receptors which are of differential density in males and females could influence sex-specific behavior mediated by the region.

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