Ibotenic Acid Lesions in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria terminalis Attenuate Conditioned Stress-Induced Increases in Prolactin, ACTH and Corticosterone

The contribution of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) to the expression of stress-induced increases in ACTH/corticosterone, prolactin and renin secretion was assessed. Neurons in the lateral part of the BST were destroyed with bilateral injections of the cell-selective neurotoxin ibotenic acid (1.5 micrograms in 0.1 microliter of solution per side). Two weeks later, the rats were stres…