Estradiol is concentrated in tyrosine hydroxylase-containing neurons of the hypothalamus.

Localization of [3H]estradiol in tyrosine hydroxylase-containing neurons of rat brain was shown by a combined technique of autoradiography and immunohistochemistry. [3H]Estradiol was concentrated in the nuclei of tyrosine hydroxylase-containing neurons in the nucleus arcuatus, nucleus periventricularis hypothalami, and the zona incerta. These results suggest that estradiol acts directly on dopamine-producing neurons of the tuberoinfundibular system and incertohypothalamic system.