The distribution of nuclear progesterone receptor in the hypothalamus and forebrain of the domestic hen

Abstract

Cell nuclei containing progesterone receptor were identified immunohistochemically in the hypothalamus and forebrain of the domestic hen using an antiserum to the steroid binding "B" subunit (110 kDa) of chicken oviduct progesterone receptor and the avidin-biotin complex procedure. Cell nuclei containing progesterone receptor were widely distributed in the anterior, medial and basal hypothalamus with the highest density occurring in the lamina terminalis and the preoptic area. Abundant, though less intensely reacting progesterone receptor was present in cell nuclei in the tuberal infundibular area and in the internal zone of the median eminence. A large group of cell nuclei containing progesterone receptor occurred in the dorsal anterior hypothalamus between the anterior commissure and the lateral ventricle. This group of nuclei extended anteriorly into the telencephalon. A small number of cell nuclei containing progesterone receptor was also found in the ventral telencephalon in the region of the nucleus accumbens.