Androgen and Estrogen (α) Receptor Distribution in the Periaqueductal Gray of the Male Rat

Abstract

The midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) has been strongly implicated in numerous behaviors heavily influenced by the gonadal steroids estrogen and testosterone, including reproductive behavior, autonomic regulation, and antinociception. However, the location of receptors for these steroids within the PAG has not been carefully characterized. Immunocytochemical techniques were used to map the distribution of neurons immunoreactive for the androgen (AR) and estrogen receptor (α subtype; ERα) along the rostrocaudal axis of the PAG in the male rat. The results show that the PAG contains a large population of both androgen and estrogen receptor containing neurons. Neurons immunoreactive for either receptor were concentrated within the caudal two-thirds of the PAG. At midlevels of the PAG, ERα and AR immunoreactive neurons were located primarily within the dorsomedial and lateral PAG. In the caudal third of the PAG, immunoreactive cells were distributed primarily within the dorsal half. The distributions of ERα and AR were remarkably similar, and it is likely that some PAG neurons contain receptors for both gonadal steroids, similar to what has been previously reported for the male rat hypothalamus. The results of this study suggest that the PAG may provide the anatomical substrate for steroid mediated changes in nociceptive thresholds and reproductive behavior.