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.

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, G. J., Buijs, R. M., & Swaab, D. F. (1981). Ontogeny of the vasopressinergic neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus and their extrahypothalamic projections in the rat brain--presence of a sex difference in the lateral septum. Brain Res, 218(1-2), 67-78. doi:10.1016/0006-8993(81)90989-6

Ontogeny of the vasopressinergic neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus and their extrahypothalamic projections in the rat brain

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

Sexual differences in AVP fiber density

AVP development is puberty-independent

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.

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