Sex difference in volume of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus in the rat

Endocrinol Jpn. 1983 Jun;30(3):277-80. doi: 10.1507/endocrj1954.30.277.

Abstract

The volume of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN) of normal male rats was significantly greater than that of normal female rats. Castration of day 1 neonatal males significantly reduced the volume of the VMN to a level comparable with that of normal females. However, the VMN volume was no longer influenced by castration on day 7. Injection of 1.25 mg testosterone propionate to 5- to 15-day-old females did not have any significant effect on the volume of the VMN. These results indicate that the volume of the VMN is sexually dimorphic and is modified by internal secretion of neonatal testes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn / physiology
  • Castration
  • Female
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Sex Characteristics*
  • Testosterone / pharmacology
  • Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus / anatomy & histology*
  • Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus / drug effects

Substances

  • Testosterone