Tl. Horvath et al., Estrogen receptor beta and progesterone receptor mRNA in the intergeniculate leaflet of the female rat, BRAIN RES, 844(1-2), 1999, pp. 196-200
The present study was undertaken to explore the possibility that the integr
ation of hormonal cues in the regulation of neuroendocrine mechanisms may o
ccur outside of the hypothalamus at the level of the lateral geniculate bod
y. In situ hybridization for mRNA encoding estrogen receptor beta and proge
sterone receptor was carried out on sections containing the lateral genicul
ate body using [S-35]-labeled antisense riboprobes. Labeled cells were pres
ent in different limbic and hypothalamic sites as described previously, Pop
ulations of cells distributed homogeneously in the ventral lateral genicula
te nucleus and intergeniculate leaflet were also found to express mRNA for
estrogen receptor beta and progesterone receptor. The dorsal lateral genicu
late nucleus lacked specific labeling for either type of gonadal steroid ho
rmone receptor mRNA. The present observation together with the recent demon
stration of a direct pathway between the intergeniculate leaflet and hypoth
alamic neuroendocrine cells indicate that integration of hormonal and photi
c stimuli in the central regulation of endocrine mechanisms occurs outside
of the hypothalamus in the lateral geniculate body. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scien
ce B.V. All rights reserved.