Intrahypothalamic 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine: Temporal analysis of effects on 5-hydroxytryptamine content in brain nuclei and on facilitated lordosis behavior

The long-term relationship between serotonin (5-HT) levels in discrete hypothalamic nuclei and female rat sexual behavior, the lordosis response, was examined following intrahypothalamic injection of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT). One week following 5,7-DHT injection, 5-HT levels in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, dorsomedial nucleus, anterior hypothalamic nucleus and the medial preoptic nucleus were approximately 90% depleted as compared to sham animals. Other hypothalamic and preoptic areas including the arcuate-median eminence, vertical nucleus of diagonal band and lateral septal nucleus showed smaller reductions in 5-HT, from 40 to 70% of sham values. At this time estrogen-dependent lordosis behavior in the lesioned group was facilitated. Behavioral facilitation was greatest at 4 weeks post lesion when depletion of 5-HT in the VMN was maximal. 5-HT levels increased at 57 days after 5,7-DHT treatment in most areas, and by 71 days post lesion, no significant differences in 5-HT levels were found between sham and 5,7-DHT-treated groups. Concomitant with the increases in 5-HT, facilitated lordosis behavior gradually decreased. Loss of behavioral facilitation appeared to be most closely related to increases in content of 5-HT in the ventromedial nucleus. These results further support the hypothesis that 5-HT endings in the hypothalamus exert tonic inhibitory regulation over hormone-dependent lordosis in the female rat. They also indicate that regenerating 5-HT fibers in the hypothalamus can reinstate a normal pattern of hormone-dependent behavioral function.