Study on the bed nucleus of stria terminalis in relation to gonadotropin control.

Role of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BST) in the control of gonadotropin release in the female rat was studied. Electrical stimulation of the BST on the day of diestrus II increased the serum concentration of FSH, but not of LH. The stimulation on the day of estrus increased serum concentration of LH as well as on the day of proestrus. In the ovariectomized and estrogen-treated rat, the stimulation decreased serum concentration of FSH; but in the ovariectomized and progesterone-treated rat the stimulation did not decrease it. Implantation of estrogen into the BST inhibited th castration-induced increase of LH and FSH in serum. These results indicate that the BST is one of negative feedback sites of estrogen, and probably participates in folliculotropin secretion which is responsible for estrogen secretion before proestrus. The physiological significance of its ability to induce LH release on the day of estrus in response to stimulation is not known now.