Sex differences in subregions of the medial nucleus of the amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis of the rat

Hines, Melissa; Allen, Laura S.; Gorski, Roger A.

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(92)90068-k

Cited by 319 publications

(217 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…A portion of this region, the posteromedial nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTMPM) shows several sexual dimorphisms, including greater AR density and regional volume in males compared to females (Hines et al, 1992;Lisciotto and Morrell, 1994;Roselli, 1991). The sex difference in volume appears to result from hormone exposure both perinatally and in adulthood.…”

Section: Bed Nucleus Of the Stria Terminalismentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of androgen receptors in the masculinization of brain and behavior: What we've learned from the testicular feminization mutation

Zuloaga

Puts

Jordan

et al. 2008

Hormones and Behavior

213

156

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Many studies demonstrate that exposure to testicular steroids such as testosterone early in life masculinizes the developing brain, leading to permanent changes in behavior. Traditionally, masculinization of the rodent brain is believed to depend on estrogen receptors (ERs) and not androgen receptors (ARs). According to the aromatization hypothesis, circulating testosterone from the testes is converted locally in the brain by aromatase to estrogens, which then activate ERs to masculinize the brain. However, an emerging body of evidence indicates that the aromatization hypothesis cannot fully account for sex differences in brain morphology and behavior, and that androgens acting on ARs also play a role. The testicular feminization mutation (Tfm) in rodents, which produces a nonfunctional AR protein, provides an excellent model to probe the role of ARs in the development of brain and behavior. Tfm rodent models indicate that ARs are normally involved in the masculinization of many sexually dimorphic brain regions and a variety of behaviors, including sexual behaviors, stress response and cognitive processing. We review the role of ARs in the development of the brain and behavior, with an emphasis on what has been learned from Tfm rodents as well as from related mutations in humans causing complete androgen insensitivity. Keywordscomplete androgen insensitivity syndrome -CAIS; vasopressin; anxiety; spatial memory; bed nucleus; medial amygdala; SDN-POA; sexual behavior; aggression; VMH Exposure to testicular steroids such as testosterone (T) early in life masculinizes the developing brain, leading to permanent changes in behavior in a wide variety of animal models (Morris et al., 2004). According to the aromatization hypothesis, T is converted by aromatase into 17-β estradiol (E2), which then acts on estrogen receptors (ERs) to masculinize the brain (Naftolin et al., 1975). Traditionally, aromatization is believed to be the mechanism by which the rodent brain becomes masculinized and defeminized. Some sexually dimorphic regions within the hypothalamus adhere well to this hypothesis, including the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA) and anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV). T spares neuronsCorresponding author: Damian Zuloaga, Neuroscience Program, 108 Giltner Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, Phone: Fax: (517) 432-2744, Email: E-mail: zuloagad@msu.edu. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. NIH Public Access NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript from death in the SDN-POA...

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Section: Bed Nucleus Of the Stria Terminalismentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of androgen receptors in the masculinization of brain and behavior: What we've learned from the testicular feminization mutation

Zuloaga

Puts

Jordan

et al. 2008

Hormones and Behavior

213

156

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In rats, subregions of the BNST are bigger in males than in females (Del Abril et al 1987;Hines et al 1992) and contain more neurons in males than in females (Guillamon et al 1988). Similar differences are found in the MeA (Mizukami et al 1983;Hines et al 1992). There are also differences in the number of synapses in the MeA (Nishizuka and Arai 1983) and in specific neurotransmitters other than vasopressin.…”

Section: Discovery Of the Sexually Dimorphic Vasopressin Innervation mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although vasopressin-immunoreactive (vasopressin-ir) cells in the BNST and MeA are present in the posterodorsal area of the MeA and the encapsulated area of the BNST, which are the subregions that show the most extreme sex-related differences in size (Hines et al 1992), these cells are mostly found lateral and ventral to these areas (Caffe and Van Leeuwen 1983;Van Leeuwen and Caffe 1983). Therefore, they appear to contribute only partly to the sex differences in these areas.…”

Section: Discovery Of the Sexually Dimorphic Vasopressin Innervation mentioning

confidence: 99%

Studying neurotransmitter systems to understand the development and function of sex differences in the brain: the case of vasopressin

Vries¹,

Geert²

1995

Neurobiological Effects of Sex Steroid Hormones

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“…[6][7][8] These sexually dimorphisms appear to be steroid responsive in most cases. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Sexual dimorphisms also exist in relation to aromatase expression, with wild-type (WT) neonatal male mice showing significantly higher levels of aromatase activity in whole brain extracts when compared with female mice, and in addition, adult male mice show higher aromatase activity following testosterone treatment than their female counterparts. 14 These data suggest a role for steroid hormones such as testosterone or estrogen in the sexual differentiation of specific regions within the hypothalamus including the preoptic region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for the existence of an estrogen-responsive sexually dimorphic group of cells in the medial preoptic area of the 129SvEv mouse strain

2008

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The current study describes the presence of sexually dimorphic cell groups within the MPO of the 129SvEv, but not the C57BL/6J strain of mice. We detected galanin-positive clusters of cells located in the MPO of 129SvEv and C57BL/6J mice, with sex differences found only in the 129SvEv strain. Aromatase-positive and dense Nissl-counterstained clusters of cells were identified only in the MPO of 129SvEv mice, but not in the C57BL/6J strain. Furthermore, this study has demonstrated that the volume of these sexually dimorphic cell groups is regulated by estrogen, but not testosterone, as male aromatase knockout mice (which have high levels of testosterone, but no estrogen) show reduced cell group volumes. These structural changes, which occur in an estrogen-deficient state may influence male sexual behaviors.

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Sex differences in subregions of the medial nucleus of the amygdala and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis of the rat

Cited by 319 publications

References 36 publications

The role of androgen receptors in the masculinization of brain and behavior: What we've learned from the testicular feminization mutation

The role of androgen receptors in the masculinization of brain and behavior: What we've learned from the testicular feminization mutation

Studying neurotransmitter systems to understand the development and function of sex differences in the brain: the case of vasopressin

Evidence for the existence of an estrogen-responsive sexually dimorphic group of cells in the medial preoptic area of the 129SvEv mouse strain

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