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Sex Differences in Neurotransmitters and Behavior: Development

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Handbook of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology

Abstract:

The ability of gonadal steroids to impact on the developing brain and organize permanent sex differences during a perinatal sensitive period has been established for over 50 years. What has been lacking is an understanding of the mechanistic basis of this process, termed sexual differentiation of the brain. Recent advances have identified target-derived growth factors to direct neuronal circuits and an unexpected role for prostaglandins in synaptic patterning. The advent of transgenic mice with null mutations for estrogen receptor isoforms, aromatase and the androgen receptor have confirmed and extended our understanding of steroid action in the developing brain. Differential cell death regulated by steroids in males versus females is a major determinant of volumetric sex differences in particular regions. Sex differences in reproductively relevant brain areas, predominantly in the diencephalon, are far greater in magnitude and more readily generalize across species than those related to cognition or emotionality. Nonetheless, the potential heuristic value of studying sex differences, and its potential importance to the etiology of gender-biased neurological disorders and diseases of mental health, have not been fully realized.

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Abbreviations

AVPv:

anteroventral periventricular nucleus

BNST:

bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

CAH:

congental adrenal hyperplasia

COX-1,2:

cyxlooxegenase 1,2

FSH:

follicle stimulating hormone

GABA:

gamma-amino butyric acid

GAD 65,67:

glutamic acid decarboxlase 65,67

GAP-43:

growth associated protein 43

INAH:

interstitial nucleus of the anterior hypothalamus

LH:

lutenizing hormone

LHRH:

lutenizing hormone releasing hormone

LTD:

long term depression

LTP:

long term potentiation

MRI:

magnetic resonance imaging

PGE2:

prostaglandin E2

PN:

postnatal

POA:

preoptic area

PVN:

paraventricular nucleus

SDN:

sexually dimorphic nucleus

SNB:

spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus

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Authors
  1. M. M. McCarthy PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Neurochemistry, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, New York, 10962, USA

    Abel Lajtha (Director) (Director)

  2. Center for Neuroendocrine Studies, University of Massachusetts, 135 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA, 01003-9271, USA

    Jeffrey D. Blaustein

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McCarthy, M.M. (2007). Sex Differences in Neurotransmitters and Behavior: Development. In: Lajtha, A., Blaustein, J.D. (eds) Handbook of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobiology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-30405-2_11

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