Sexual Dimorphism of the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis and the Amygdala

ISBN-13: 9783540676836 / Angielski / Miękka / 2000 / 78 str.

Nadya Stefanova; Wladimir Ovtscharoff; N. Stefanova

Opis

Sex differences are observed in various physiological, behavioral, and psychic functions, including reproductive behavior, aggres- sion, emotions, and cognition. Such differences are expressed even in early childhood with preferences to definite activities. It has been generally accepted that differences between genders are formed under the influence of biological as well as environmental factors. The existence of sex differences in functions of the central nervous system has suggested that there are also morphological sex differences. In recent years several reports on sexual dimorphism in the brain of vertebrates have been published. However, the mecha- nisms of sexual differentiation of the central nervous system remain unclear in most cases. It is often difficult to correlate morphological sex differences to differences in definite function or behavior. We set out to explore the sexual dimorphism of the limbic system and especially the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the amygdala, which are considered generally to be occupied with the control of reproductive behavior and autonomic and compli- cated psychic functions. Several reports on sexual dimorphism of these structures have been published. Some of them have been directed to the total neuronal number and the volume of the nuclei, while others have concentrated on definite subpopula- tions of neurons. In many cases the mechanisms of sexual differ- entiation were tested, but sometimes they could not be estab- lished.

Spis treści

Introduction.-Sexual Differentiation of the Brain.-Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis (BST).-The Amygdala.-Chemoarchitecture of the BST and the Amygdala.-Mediators of Reproductive Behaviour.-Materials and Methods.-Results.-Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis.-The Amygdala.-Localisation of the Nuclei.-Volumes.-Total Neuronal Density.-GABA-Immunoreactive Neurons.-Leucine-Enkephalin-Immunoreactive Neurons.-Sexual Dimorphisms of the CNS.-Summary.-the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis.-The Amygdala.-References.-Subject Index

O autorze

An up-to-date summary on sexual dimorphism of the CNS with special regard to sexual differentiation of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the amygdala in rat. The results provide morphological and immunocytochemical data that may be used for further studies on sexual dimorphic circuitry and its functional significance.

Blurb

The present review summarizes the up-to-date knowledge on the sexual dimorphism of the CNS with special regard to the sexual differentiation of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST) and the amygdala (Am) in rat. The authors provide new evidence for the sexual dimorphism and differentiation of GABAergic, leucine-enkephalin-containing and parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons in the BST and Am of the rat. Together with testing the gender differences, age-related changes in numbers of the neuronal subpopulations, mentioned above are followed. The authors' results provide morphological and immunocytochemical data that may be used for further studies on sexually dimorphic circuitry and its functional significance.