Effect of neonatal castration on capacity of male rat brain septal complex neurons for binding sex steroids.

The effect of neonatal castration on neuron capacity for binding septal dorsal, lateral, and medial nuclei, Brock's diagonal fold nucleus, and terminal streak bed nucleus of radio-labeled sex steroids (3H-testosterone and 3H-estradiol) has been studied. Neonatal castration performed on the first day of male postnatal life increased the capacity of brain septal complex neurons for uptake of sex steroids, mainly 3H-testosterone. The strategic position of the septal complex in the brain and the presence of neurons actively taking up sex steroids indicated the important role of this structure of the limbic system of the brain in the formation of neural mechanisms in the regulation of sexual functions in male rats.