Acetylcholine rhythm in the preoptic area of the rat hypothalamus is synchronized with the estrous cycle

Acetylcholine levels in the preoptic area of rat hypothalamus were found to change rhythmically, in synchronization with the estrous cycle. During the proestrous critical period, these levels demonstrated a drop followed by a sharp rise. The absence of this phenomena in males indicates sexual dimorphism. The close association between this newly detected hypothalamic acetylcholine rhythm and the estrous cycle suggests the possible involvement of acetylcholine in regulation of the estrous cycle.