Periventricular preoptic area neurons coactivated with luteinizing hormone (LH)-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons at the time of the LH surge are LHRH afferents.

Earlier studies demonstrated coactivation of the periventricular preoptic area (pePOA) with LHRH neurons at the time of an induced or spontaneous LH surge, suggesting that the pePOA might regulate LHRH neurons. To investigate this hypothesis, studies were conducted to determine the temporal pattern of pePOA Fos activation during the rat estrous cycle and establish the connections of the pePOA neurons with LHRH neurons. Fos activation within LHRH and pePOA neurons showed the same temporal pattern. Both were absent during diestrous I, diestrous II, and the morning of proestrus. Fos was induced in the pePOA and LHRH neurons beginning on the afternoon of proestrus (4 h before lights off), with a decline 8 h later on proestrous evening. Tract-tracing studies then established the relationship between LHRH and pePOA neurons. Retrograde labeling with fluorogold determined that a portion of the Fos-positive pePOA neurons present at the time of the LH surge sent a projection to regions that contain LHRH cells. Anterograde tracer (neurobiotin) injections established that the pePOA neurons sent axons to the LHRH cells. Taken together, these data indicate that the pePOA provides direct input to LHRH neurons that is likely to stimulate LHRH neurons at the time of the LH surge.