The neurosteroid allopregnanolone modulates oxytocin expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus

Virgin, ovariectomized rats exposed to 2 wk of sequential estradiol (E-2) and progesterone (P) followed by P withdrawal have increased hypothalamic oxytocin (OT) mRNA and peptide levels relative to sham-treated animals. This increase is prevented if P is sustained. In the central nervous system, P is metabolized to the neurosteroid allopregnanolone (3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one), which exerts effects by acting as a positive allosteric modulator of GABA(A) receptor/Cl--channel complexes. In the present study, ovariectomized rats that received sequential E-2 and P for 2 wk followed by P withdrawal were administered allopregnanolone at the time of P withdrawal. Hypothalamic and plasma allopregnanolone concentrations, serum E-2 and P concentrations, and hypothalamic OT mRNA levels were measured at death. Steroid-induced increases in OT mRNA were attenuated in animals treated with allopregnanolone at the time of P withdrawal. The results suggest that allopregnanolone plays an important modulatory role in steroid-mediated increases in hypothalamic OT.