Chronically elevated corticosterone in the dorsolateral bed nuclei of stria terminalis increases anxiety-like behavior.

We previously discovered that corticosterone administration into the amygdala increases anxiety-like behaviors in rats tested on an elevated plus maze. However the behavioral effects of elevated corticosterone in a functionally related structure, the bed nuclei of stria terminalis (BNST) are unknown. The current study examined the effects of corticosterone administration into the dorsolateral BNST on exploratory behavior on an elevated plus maze. Corticosterone reduced open arm exploration on the plus maze indicating an increase in anxiety-like behavior.