STEROID-HORMONE TARGET-CELLS IN THE EXTRAHYPOTHALAMIC BRAIN-STEM AND CERVICAL SPINAL-CORD - NEURO-ENDOCRINE SIGNIFICANCE

Maps of selected cross sections of rat midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata, cerebellum and spinal cord are presented showing the distribution of target neurons with nuclear concentration of radioactivity as obtained in thaw-mount autoradiograms after injection of [3H]-oestradiol, [3H]-dihydrotestosterone or [3H]-corticosterone. The results indicate a wide distribution of steroid hormone receptors in the midbrain, hindbrain and spinal cord and suggest an important activational role of steroid hormones on extrahypothalamic neuroendocrine, autonomic, sensory and motor systems. © 1979.