Studies with various neuronal and breast cancer cell lines show that activation of Protein Kinase C (PKC) is involved in the potentiating effect of the rapid membrane actions of estrogens (SFN Abst.’02 #482.6). Estrogens’ acute action can also increase the excitation of Ventromedial Hypothalamic (VMH) neurons and thereby facilitate their genomic action and effects on rats lordosis behavior (SFN Abst.’02 #482.6). There is high degree of interaction of estrogens and oxytocin in mice (Choleris et all. PNAS’ 03). Further to investigate possible co-expression of action of estrogen receptors, oxytocin receptors (OTR) and different isozymes of PKCs in single VMH neurons, RT-PCR was performed. Neurons were collected from 300-μm VMH slices of 3-5 week old, female and male rats. mRNA was reverse transcribed into cDNA, followed by real time quantitative PCR (ABI PRISM 7700). Primers were designed for the following receptors: ERα, ERβ, OTR, PKCα, PKCδ, PKCε, PKCζ (n=4 rats and 33 cells per group). OTR mRNA was co-expr...