The development of the Bed Nucleus Stria Terminalis (BNST) and Medial Amygdala (MeA) associated social behavior pathway might be triggered by increased gonadal steroid hormone levels during puberty.

State University of New York at Buffalo

1. Studies indicate that the development of AVP pathways occurs in the lateral septum (LS) and lateral habenula (LH)
2. Males show a higher density of AVP fiber development
3. AVP Fiber development generally begins around P12 & P14.

Ontogeny of AVP Pathways

De Vries GJ, Wang Z, Bullock NA, Numan S. Sex differences in the effects of testosterone and its metabolites on vasopressin messenger RNA levels in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis of rats. J Neurosci. 1994 Mar;14(3 Pt 2):1789-94. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.14-03-01789.1994. PMID: 8126571; PMCID: PMC6577591.

Sex differences in the effects of testosterone on AVP mRNA in the BNST

Males (right) show denser AVP fiber development than females (left) in the lateral septum (LS).

Sexual differences in AVP fiber density

However, as fiber development is observed as early as P14 in the LS and LH in rat models where puberty generally kicks in at P30-42, it is safe to assume that the gonadal steroid levels may not have an impact on the AVP- fiber development.

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