Changes in c-Fos and NOS Expressionin the PVH of Lactating Rats in Responseto Excitotoxicity and Stress

摘要

This study investigated how lactation modified the expression patterns of Fos and nitric oxide synthase in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVH) induced by excito-toxicity and stress. Kainic acid or egg white treatment weakly activated Fos expression in the PVH of lactating in comparison to diestrus or ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Labels for NADPH-diaphorase and nNOS revealed a different distribution pattern in the PVH depending on the physiological condition and challenge. The present results confirm that lactation attenuates the PVH activational response to stress and excitotoxicity, and both stimuli induced nitric oxide expression in the PVH of diestrus, lactating, and OVX rats.