Ricciardi K H, Turcotte J C, De Vries G J, Blaustein J D
Psychology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003, USA.
J Neuroendocrinol. 1996 Sep;8(9):673-85.
The ventrolateral hypothalamus (VLH) in female guinea pigs includes a subset of neurons which contain estrogen and progestin receptors, and which are implicated in the regulation of female sexual behavior by steroid hormones. However, little is known about where these neurons project, and consequently which other brain areas are involved in sexual behavior in female guinea pigs. The anterograde tracer Phaseolus vulgaris-Leucoagglutinin was used to label efferents from the ovarian steroid receptor-containing part of the VLH. To identify the correct placement of the tracer specifically within the group of neurons containing estrogen receptors, medial hypothalamic sections were also immunostained for estrogen receptors. Forebrain areas receiving dense projections from the ventrolateral hypothalamus included the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, medial preoptic area, anterior hypothalamic area, anterior ventromedial hypothalamus, and caudal ventrolateral hypothalamus. The midbrain central gray was also heavily labeled. Moderate innervation was observed in the forebrain in the basolateral amygdala, medial preoptic nucleus, lateroanterior hypothalamic nucleus, dorsal hypothalamic areas, posterior hypothalamus, zona incerta, and in the midbrain interspersed among the central and lateral tegmental tracts. The major efferent pathways from the VLH appeared to travel rostrally through the mediobasal hypothalamus and preoptic area, and caudally via the medial thalamic nuclei and periventricular fiber system. These findings are similar to those of previous studies tracing the efferents from the ventromedial nucleus in rats and from the lateral hypothalamus in guinea pigs. Many of these areas that receive input from the steroid receptor rich area within the VLH are likely to be involved in the regulation of female sexual behavior.
雌性豚鼠的腹外侧下丘脑（VLH）包含一组神经元，这些神经元含有雌激素和孕激素受体，并参与类固醇激素对雌性性行为的调节。然而，对于这些神经元的投射位置，以及因此哪些其他脑区参与雌性豚鼠的性行为，人们了解甚少。使用顺行示踪剂菜豆凝集素标记来自VLH中含卵巢类固醇受体部分的传出纤维。为了在含有雌激素受体的神经元组中特异性地确定示踪剂的正确位置，还对下丘脑内侧切片进行了雌激素受体免疫染色。接受腹外侧下丘脑密集投射的前脑区域包括终纹床核、内侧视前区、下丘脑前区、下丘脑腹内侧前部和下丘脑腹外侧尾部。中脑中央灰质也有大量标记。在基底外侧杏仁核、内侧视前核、下丘脑外侧前核、下丘脑背侧区域、下丘脑后部、未定带等前脑区域以及中脑中央和外侧被盖束之间的区域观察到中度神经支配。VLH的主要传出通路似乎向前通过下丘脑内侧基部和视前区，向后通过丘脑内侧核和室周纤维系统。这些发现与先前追踪大鼠腹内侧核和豚鼠外侧下丘脑传出纤维的研究结果相似。许多接受来自VLH中富含类固醇受体区域输入的这些区域可能参与雌性性行为的调节。
