Effects of gonadal steroids on guanylate cyclase activity in the developing and adult brain

17 beta-estradiol enhances guanylate cyclase activity when incubated in vitro with tissue slices from all areas of the neonatal rat forebrain. This action is not mimicked by other steroids. In vivo exposure of neonatal and adult rat brains to estradiol (either secreted directly or formed by metabolic conversion of testosterone) also increases guanylate cyclase activity in estrogen target areas of the brain.