Figure 1

Developmental effects of oxytocin on central ERα. The mean number of cells expressing ERα-IR in females and males in (a) the ventral lateral septum (LSV); (b), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST); (c) ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH); and (d), the central amygdala (CeA). The effect of neonatal manipulation of OT was sexually dimorphic, dose-dependent, and site-specific. In females, treatment with OT increased ERα-IR in the LSV (a), VMH (c) and CeA (d). In males, OTA increased ERα-IR in the BST (c). Low, Med, and High treatments were single injections of 0.03 μg OT, 0.3 μg OT, or 3 μg OT, respectively. * = significantly different from CON.